Paris Hilton
Aeon/GC imagesDespite her devastation at losing her home in Malibu, Paris Hilton worked hard to help thousands of other people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires — and she’s inspired her son Phoenix, who now wants to become a firefighter.
Hilton, 43, said TMZ on Monday, Jan. 20, that the 2-year-old child she shares with the entrepreneur Carter Rheum — the couple also shares a 1-year-old daughter, London — was inspired after seeing the devastation in the city he calls home. “He said he wanted to be a firefighter,” she said. “The families, the children, the animals, it was just heartbreaking to see what happened to California.”
While many young children have ambitions to be firefighters, not many witness first-hand the devastation that fire can cause.
Hilton was shares his experiences following the fires around the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu areas, with the animal lover confirming last week that she even rescued a dog named Zuzu whose owners could no longer care for him. “We just all fell in love with it,” she said. “So we’ll adopt him.”
Hilton is now encouraging fans to reach out to animal shelters if they can offer a loving home to the many animals displaced by the tragedy. “As an animal lover, my heart breaks for those who have lost their furry friends or had to give them up due to displacement,” she shared via Instagram on January 14. “I want to do my part and look after Zuzu and encourage others who can to contact their local shelter to see how they can support them!”
The singer, DJ and heiress before shared videos via Instagram of the remains of her home, along with an emotional caption. “Standing here in what was once our home and the heartbreak is truly indescribable,” she wrote on Jan. 10. “When I first saw the news I was in complete shock – I couldn’t process it. But now that I’m standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, I feel like my heart has broken into a million pieces. This house wasn’t just a place to live – it was where we dreamed, laughed and made the most beautiful memories as a family. It was where Phoenix’s little hands created art that I will cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see him reduced to ashes… it’s devastating beyond words.”
Paris Hilton was hoping to get her chance to become a mother after the secret arrival of her and Carter Rheaum’s children, son Phoenix and daughter London. In January 2023 Hilton announced via social media that she and the venture capitalist welcomed their first child together. (Ream also shares a daughter with ex Laura Bellizzi.) (…)
“What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this is not just my story,” she added. “So many people have lost everything. It’s not just walls and roofs – it’s the memories that have made these houses homes. These are the photos, the memories, the irreplaceable parts of our lives. And yet, in this pain, I know I am incredibly lucky. My loved ones, my babies and my pets are safe. That is the most important thing and I hold onto that gratitude with everything I have. And extremely grateful to all the firefighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires.”
