Chuck D Asks Fans to Stop Using Public Enemy’s Song in Wildfire Videos

Public Enemy’s Chuck D has urged fans to stop using the group’s 1990 track Burn Hollywood Burn in videos depicting California’s devastating wildfires. The rapper clarified that the protest song, which critiques exploitation in the entertainment industry, has no connection to the ongoing tragedy.

“Burn Hollywood Burn is a protest song,” Chuck D stated online. “It stems from the Watts rebellion in 1965 and has nothing to do with families losing everything in a natural disaster. Please don’t use it on reels and pictures of this horrifying event.”

The California wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives, destroyed over 12,300 buildings, and displaced more than 200,000 people. Fires in Los Angeles County, including the Palisades and Eaton Canyon wildfires, continue to spread. Officials report the blazes are less than 30% contained, with high winds threatening further destruction.

Among the areas hardest hit are Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the Hollywood Hills. Numerous celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Anthony Hopkins, have lost their homes. James Woods shared that his Pacific Palisades home survived despite earlier fears, calling it “a miracle.”

In response to the disaster, Hollywood has rallied to support relief efforts. Disney pledged $15 million to aid organizations, while Paramount, Fox, and Warner each donated $1 million. Jamie Lee Curtis announced a $1 million donation from her family foundation to support California’s recovery.