Actor Zachary Levi, known for his roles in Shazam! and other Hollywood blockbusters, didn’t hold back as he called out California’s leadership over the state’s ongoing wildfire disaster.
Speaking on Jesse Watters Primetime, Levi’s criticism was sharp and deeply personal, reflecting both his history as a longtime Los Angeles resident and his frustration with what he described as “criminally negligent” mismanagement.
“This is the most devastating fire in Los Angeles history,” Levi began, visibly emotional. Having grown up in Ventura, California, and lived in L.A. for 15 years, Levi painted a vivid picture of the destruction. “It’s like watching a post-apocalyptic war film,” he said, condemning the state’s leadership for their failure to mitigate the crisis.
Levi’s primary target was California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose tenure he described as a period of worsening wildfire conditions. “Gavin Newsom has been either governor or lieutenant governor during some of the worst fires we’ve ever had in California,” Levi said.
He accused Newsom of failing to address the root causes of the state’s wildfires, such as inadequate forest management and cuts to firefighting budgets. “For them to do essentially not just nothing, but worse than nothing… it’s almost criminally intentional.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also came under fire, particularly for her recent trip to Ghana during one of the city’s most devastating crises. Levi joined the growing chorus criticizing her decision, calling it emblematic of leadership detached from the realities on the ground.
The actor also referenced Newsom’s infamous French Laundry scandal, where the governor was caught violating his own COVID-19 protocols during a lavish dinner. “What does that say about the character of this man?” Levi asked. “This isn’t leadership. It’s performative at best.”
Levi also highlighted a lesser-discussed issue: the loss of fire insurance for Southern Californians. “Seventy percent of insured homeowners in Southern California had their fire insurance stripped away months ago,” he explained. “This is not okay. People are being left vulnerable in one of the most fire-prone regions in the world.”
Levi called for accountability at every level of government and urged Americans to support those impacted by the fires. “We need to send as much love, light, and support as we can to everybody who’s being affected right now,” he said. But his message was clear: thoughts and prayers aren’t enough without real leadership and meaningful change.
