Oscar winner Mel Gibson has revealed his home was lost in the Los Angeles wildfires while he was away recording a podcast interview with Joe Rogan.
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Gibson, a dual Irish and American citizen, described the loss as "emotional" and "devastating" but attempted to remain upbeat as he said his family were "happy and healthy and out of harm's way".
Appearing on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports, the actor and director said he returned from Austin, Texas, after recording The Joe Rogan Experience to find his Malibu home was "completely toasted".
"I was doing the Rogan podcast. I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought, 'I wonder if my place is still there?', but when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there," the Mad Max star said.
"I've never seen such a complete burn, it is obviously devastating, it's emotional.
"You live there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. I lived there for about 14, 15 years, so it was home to me.
"I had a lot of personal things there that I can't get back - everything from photographs to files to just personal things that I had from over the years.
"That can all be replaced. These are only things. And the good news is that those in my family and those I love are all well, and we're all happy and healthy and out of harm's way."
During the podcast interview, Gibson expressed frustration at the city's response to the wildfires, which has seen criticism aimed at Governor of California Gavin Newsom and Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass.
Gibson alleged that Governor Newsom "didn't do anything" to help address underlying environmental issues that have remained a problem in southern California for many years.
"It's sad, the place is just on fire," he added.
This Is Us stars Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore have also lost their homes in the wildfires alongside Oscar winner Jeff Bridges, TV personality Paris Hilton, actor Billy Crystal, The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes, Salvador star James Woods, talk show host Ricki Lake, The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, and songwriter Diane Warren.
Source: Press Association
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