The iconic Hollywood sign, a fixture in numerous TV shows and movies, is threatened by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
According to a BBC report, flames have been spotted a few miles from the landmark on Mount Lee above Beachwood Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Although the Hollywood sign has not yet caught fire, social media has been flooded with AI-generated images falsely depicting the sign as ablaze, sparking misinformation.
In response to the widespread fake news, the official Hollywood Sign account on Facebook reassured the public that the sign “continues to stand tall,” urging people to keep Los Angeles County in their thoughts and stay alert.
On X (formerly Twitter), users have been actively debunking these false claims. One user criticized the use of AI to fabricate such images during a natural disaster as ‘psychotic.’ Another stressed, “The Hollywood sign hasn’t burned yet due to the California fires, but it might soon if the fires continue.” A third urged, “Stop with the nonsense; people are losing everything. The Hollywood sign on fire is fake; stop reposting it.”
🚨 RIP Hollywood Sign 🚨
Apocalyptic views unfolding in Hollywood…#californiawildfire #EatonFire #hollywoodhillsfire #PalisadesFire pic.twitter.com/rt4K8yRyxc
— RephreshedMind (@RephreshedMind) January 9, 2025Palisades Fire Impact
The Palisades fire, which ignited on Tuesday (Jan 7), has already consumed more than 17,000 acres and remains uncontrolled. In total, the wildfires have scorched over 27,000 acres. Authorities have mandated evacuations for over 100,000 residents, including celebrities who have lost multi-million dollar homes, particularly in Malibu.
The Hollywood Sign Is Not On Fire—As Social Media Users Share AI-Generated Images https://t.co/kXgdcIiZsQ pic.twitter.com/rnWFVfG0LM
— Forbes (@Forbes) January 10, 2025Although the Hollywood Sign has remained intact, Sunset Boulevard suffered extensive damage. This famous street, part of which lies in Pacific Palisades, has seen many buildings destroyed by the fire.
Read: Palisades Fire Ravages Malibu and Santa Monica, Claims Lives
Political Reactions
President-elect Donald Trump has attributed the severity of the fires to California Governor Gavin Newsom, criticizing him for rejecting a proposal to increase water supply to the state’s agricultural Central Valley to save a fish species, claiming this decision ignored the welfare of Californians. “He wanted to protect a fish called smelt by giving it less water, but didn’t care about the people of California,” Trump stated on Truth Social, concluding, “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
