Jhené Aiko Loses Home in Los Angeles Wildfires, Responds to Critics

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Singer Jhené Aiko revealed on Thursday that her home was destroyed in the recent Los Angeles wildfires, marking the second time she has experienced such a tragedy. The R&B artist shared the devastating news on Instagram, expressing gratitude for her family’s safety but heartbreak over the loss of their belongings.

“Me and my children’s home is gone,” Aiko wrote, referring to her 16-year-old daughter, Namiko, and 2-year-old son, Noah. “Burned to the ground with all of our things inside. Lord have mercy.” The singer, who purchased the Pacific Palisades property in 2023 for $5 million, emphasized that despite her success, she does not have the financial cushion some assume. “The fact some of you think I have money is wild,” she responded to critics in the comments. “I don’t got it like that.”

Aiko also reflected on a similar experience from her childhood, when her family home burned down while she was in the second grade. “I never understood why some of the kids at school were so mean about it,” she wrote. “They thought we were rich when we weren’t. But they thought we were rich because we had love!”

The wildfires, which have ravaged over 38,000 acres in California, have displaced thousands, including other celebrities. As of Saturday, more than 153,000 Los Angeles County residents were under evacuation orders, with over 166,000 under warnings, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported that at least 10,000 structures have been destroyed.

Among those affected are actors Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg, who lost their “forever home” in the blaze. The couple encouraged their followers to donate to verified fundraisers for wildfire victims. “Thankfully our family is safe, however other LA fire victims aren’t as fortunate,” Greenberg wrote on Instagram.

Jhené Aiko concluded her post with a message of resilience and compassion. “Thankful we still have each other,” she wrote. “Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy. God bless us all.”