Tyler Perry has lashed out at insurance companies for failing homeowners following the devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires.
In a candid Instagram post on January 12, the 55-year-old producer shared heartbreaking accounts of the destruction he has witnessed firsthand.
“Watching a daughter use a garden hose to try and protect her 90-year-old parents’ home because their insurance was canceled was just gut-wrenching to me,” Perry wrote. “Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?”
“People who have paid premiums all of their lives are left with nothing because of pure greed,” he added. “As I am in the process of trying to figure out what steps to take to do all I can to help as many as I can, I am keeping everyone in my prayers.”
Los Angeles residents are criticizing insurance companies for exploitative practices after reports revealed that major insurers, including State Farm General, announced that it will not renew thousands of home insurance policies in fire-prone areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena in 2024, according to PEOPLE.
The backlash intensifies as heartbreaking stories surface, including a 66-year-old man who died while trying to save his home from the Eaton fire using a garden hose—a story that has gained national attention.
As insurance companies scale back home policies in California due to rising natural disaster risks, state officials are working to keep insurers from leaving.
While insurers face backlash for dropping coverage amid disasters like the L.A. fires, they argue that premium hikes and policy adjustments are necessary to remain financially viable in high-risk areas like Southern California.
Without these changes, they claim they can’t afford to offer coverage at all.
Consumer advocates have also criticized insurance companies for prioritizing profits over people amid California’s wildfire crisis.
While the state provides the FAIR Plan as a backup insurance option, many residents with private insurers have been left with higher premiums and insufficient coverage to recover their losses, according to the Los Angeles Times.
