Billy Crystal says 'I fell to my knees' as he wears clothes he fled LA wildfire in for FireAid

Billy Crystal was just one of the Hollywood stars that lost their homes in the wildfire that swept through Los Angeles, and he opened up about the devastation during the FireAid concert

Billy Crystal gave a heartfelt speech at the FireAid concert, dressed in the same clothes he wore when escaping his burning family home.

The benefit concert took place on Thursday, January 30 at both the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum in California. In total, 24 artists performed to raise funds for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

Among them was Crystal, who shared his personal experience of losing his home to the fire. In his poignant yet humorous speech, he said: "These were the clothes I wore when I fled my house with my wife Janice like so many of us did on January 7. It was all I had, wore it for a week along with a N-95 mask. I look like an evacuee or someone who just robbed a 7-11. But everybody has been so supportive. This young girl, she must have been 20, came up to me and said she understood my pain because she had lost TikTok for a day."

On a more sombre note, the When Harry Met Sally star recalled: "When we were finally able to get back to our house in the Palisades, which we lived in for 46 years, like thousands of you - our house now looks like this [shows image of the wreckage]. I fell to my knees and I wailed. I had not cried like that since I was 15 years old and I was told my father had just died."

After giving a moving speech, Billy Crystal received an overwhelming show of support on X, previously known as Twitter. Fans poured out their emotions for the 76-year-old actor. One admirer commented: "Billy Crystal delivered a home run speech at #FireAid.", reports the Mirror US. Another chimed in with: "Billy Crystal's speech about losing his house in the fire was making me cry! #fireaid."

A third posted: "Thankful for Billy Crystal. People can't just assume if you're famous or have money, you're not affected. It's called being human," while a fourth lauded: "Billy Crystal making me cry. That was a hell of a speech."

Other stars who stepped up for the fundraiser included Billie Eilish and Finneas, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, Tate McRae, among others.

The concert aims to "raise money for rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California", according to the organisers. The event was broadcast and streamed live on various platforms, including Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Netflix, Paramount+ and Prime Video.

Taylor Swift has voiced her distress at the tragic California wildfires, terming them "heartbreaking to see". The 35 year old vocal sensation took to her Instagram story, sharing a list of charities she’s backing—among them the California Community Foundation Fund, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. "The fires in California have devastated so many families and it has been heartbreaking to see these stories unfold," Swift shared with her followers, outlining the devastation and the resilience being shown.

"So much suffering, loss and destruction, as many people embark on some of the most challenging times of their lives. There are also many amazing organisations and groups banding together to help these communities rebuild."

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