Mel Gibson Announces Tragic News: ‘It’s All In Cinders’

In the midst of raging wildfires across Los Angeles County, actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson has faced a personal tragedy. His Malibu mansion, a home of nearly 15 years, has been completely destroyed. The fires, driven by powerful winds and parched conditions, have caused widespread devastation, with officials confirming the destruction of over 10,000 structures, the loss of at least 10 lives, and more than 300,000 residents under evacuation orders.

Joining by phone, Gibson spoke candidly to NewsNation about the emotional toll of losing his home. “I’m doing good. You know, it’s just a thing. But, you know, it is obviously kind of devastating. It’s emotional,” Gibson shared. “You live there for a long time and you had all your stuff. You remember George Carlin talking about your stuff?” Reflecting on the loss of personal items accumulated over the years, he added with a wry sense of humor, “I’ve been relieved from the burden of my stuff because it’s all in cinders.”

The actor was in Austin, Texas, recording a podcast with Joe Rogan when the fire erupted. “I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighborhood was on fire,” Gibson said. “I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there.” Gibson described returning to the charred remains of his home and capturing video footage of the devastation. “Rose [his wife] took some, and I took some. The chickens survived. It was amazing,” he said, injecting a note of levity. “The chickens pooped, and they were fine. So we gave them some grain and some water, and they’re happy and laying eggs and stuff. They weren’t roast chickens.”

“We evacuated. See, I left on a plane, and the winds were picking up, and I went to Austin, and of course, while I was gone, whenever I leave town, a fire breaks out. It was the same last month I mean, it was the same thing the flames were like 200 yards away from my house, but this time, they came from the other direction and really nailed me, and I have never seen a place so perfectly burnt It is like it’s kind of you could put it in an urn. You know, yeah, there is nothing there.” The fire spared little in Gibson’s neighborhood. “Some of the neighbors really got it hard,” he said. “Ed Harris, the actor who lived down the street—I think his place is gone. It was kind of random. It wasn’t every place, but it was quite a few. A dozen places were just non-existent. I mean, nothing but a chimney and a few roof tiles.”

WATCH:

Mel Gibson lost his home while he was filming the Joe Rogan podcast. When asked about how he’s doing, Mel laughs and says “at least I don’t have any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.”
Life is bigger than stuff.pic.twitter.com/DybAokjLR1

— The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) January 10, 2025

“We’ll go through the usual motions, I guess. There’s some kind of insurance, maybe. I can’t even tell you anymore. But, you know, it’s emotional,” Gibson said. “I lived there for about 14, 15 years. So it was, it was home to me and I had a lot of personal things there that I can’t get back. All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to… just personal things that I had from over the years and clothing, and you know, it’s pretty cool stuff, you know, but, you know, hey, that can all be replaced. These are only things.” Despite the significant loss, Gibson remained philosophical. “The good news is that those in my family, and those I love are all well, we’re all happy and healthy and out of harm’s way. And that’s all I care about, really.”

For now, the actor plans to move forward, cherishing his family’s safety and taking solace in his memories. Officials have labeled the wildfire the worst in Los Angeles history, with containment efforts at 0% as of the latest reports. Firefighting crews are bracing for continued windy and dry conditions that may hinder their efforts into the following week.