Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag.
John Kobaloff/Getty ImagesWhile many celebrities have been criticized for… Request donations After the devastation caused by forest fires, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Monday They say we Why aren't they bothered by the “backlash”?
“We're so used to negative things, so this is pretty normal,” Pratt, 41, said exclusively. Us Weekly On Wednesday, January 15th. “If people want to send their own money to whomever they want, it is equivalent to buying a celebrity’s merchandise, or buying their own movie tickets. People can do whatever they want with their own money, and thank God, there are people who want to support us and send us anything.”
He added: “No one is required to do this, and it is not a tax.” People can say what they want, and they have the right to their opinions. But, all the people messaging, asking to send money, asking to create an Amazon wish list. …These are their choices.”
Pratt and Montague, 38 years old They lost Los Angeles Home in the ongoing wildfires that devastated Southern California earlier this month. The natural disaster swept through thousands of acres and killed at least 25 people. Many residents, incl Hills Graduates, the city limits were evacuated following government orders.
Pratt and Montag left the area with their two sons, Gunner, 6, and Ryker, 2, with only a few personal belongings. After the loss Most of their belongingstwo TikTok followers created a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Pratt and Montag.
“When this first happened, on the first day, they set up a GoFundMe on their own and it has continued to work absolutely wonderful and amazing,” Pratt recalls. “Then they passed it on to us. We're so grateful they did that and they made our Amazon wish list.”
Montag also confirmed that neither she nor Pratt wanted to ask for contributions.
“Then our friends Brandon and Courtney (From TikTok) They were like, 'We don't care what you say.' “We know people who want to donate money to you, and even just one donation will help you,” she said. we. “So, we didn't expect anyone to donate. I didn't post it, but we had a lot of people wanting to donate $5.
According to GoFundMethe Pratts have raised over $134,000 so far, with some generosity as small as $5, but it's not the amount that matters — the gift itself means so much more.
“People say, 'Oh, they're asking for money, here's someone's coffee, so someone bought us a coffee,'” he explained. “It's just in terms of volume, so it may look like it's just money, but scroll (through it and see) it's just people sending you café au lait.”
“Some people think this is a higher number and I thank everyone individually.”
Pratt further theorized that the supposed backlash came from those who mistakenly believe celebrities are all very wealthy.
“No one thought we were rich celebrities until three days ago, and it's getting frustrating. Like if you Google Spencer, it literally (says) 'broke, no net worth,'” Pratt said Wednesday. “My net worth on this site you're looking at over the last 15 years…was $1,000. And now Our house is burningmy parents' house burned down (and) we're now rich celebrities, which is infuriating because the media, respectfully, never called us celebrities (and) never called us rich.
He added: “It's this weird disconnect where we get to meet real rich celebrities, which would be great if we were… but we're not, and people know it.”
According to Pratt, it's “only haters” who invite him and Montag out.
“There's no one with a brain to think we're rich celebrities. It's like these are just people who hate trolling,” he said. “People (who) support us and have been Follow our lifestyle On social media, they see that we are not rich celebrities. They see what we do every day. We've been posting our lives on Snapchat for 11 years, all day long. Our fans know we're not rich celebrities, they know we only eat Mexican food and get organic eggs, they know we do it. “We film everything.”
In addition to the GoFundMe and Amazon Wishlist donations, Pratt and Montag also have money coming from their business ventures and social media uploads. Many fans have frequently purchased crystals from his Pratt Daddy Crystals store as well Broadcast previous montage music And purchase the accompanying goods. (They're also members of the TikTok Creator Fund, where the app pays influencers for every popular video that gains real engagement, as well as a similar program on Snapchat.)
“Heidi No. 1 in 13 countries“I didn't know that people in Oman would support Heidi, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, I mean all these countries that I hope, God willing, will become a global star,” Pratt said emotionally. “We can go visit and hug those people who were there for us when we needed it most.”
Stars showed their support for Heidi Montag and her music after her husband Spencer Pratt asked for help after losing their home in the Los Angeles wildfires. “Thank you so much everyone. #1 on the iTunes chart, oh my god,” Montag shared via Instagram Story on Saturday, January 11. “Thank you (…)
Former MTV stars Kristin Cavallari, Audrina Patridge and Lou Bosworth They also filmed themselves dancing to tracks from the 2010 montage superficial In the videos in question.
“The overwhelming support for these people who are using their platforms to help us when they know how influential their platforms are, how much each post means to them and their brands, and to ask the people they follow to rally behind us and To help us “It's amazing,” Montag gushed. “We've never seen this kind of support or kindness or acknowledgment even for something so important that was truly heartwarming.”
Pratt, who indicated that they are planning to do so Rebuilding their family homehave recently been candid about their financial situation in recent videos on social media.
“We put all our money into our home and our lives to build something for our kids to put in their name and all the details we have saved every year for the past eight years,” he said. we. “Our house was 3,000 square feet Not a palace In Palisades. Everything was perfect from the stoves to the washing machines. That's all we put our money into — and then we go and eat delicious groceries in Ireon. But our lives were like, 'Put our money in our house, eat clean groceries, and that's it.' We take one trip a year to see Heidi's parents in Colorado.
Pratt continued, “Any money we make from any TV opportunities or social media opportunities is only verified. So it's all like, 'Oh, Heidi and Spencer (are) these rich celebrities asking for money.'” I Wish I Was a Celebrity Rich, I keep saying I'd be in Cabo right now for tacos.
verify LAFD website For local wildfire alerts and Click here For resources on how to help those affected.
With reporting by Andrea Simpson
