Outrage as CEO Keith Wasserman Pleads for Private Firefighters Amid Wildfire Crisis
A Los Angeles millionaire CEO, Keith Wasserman, sparked outrage after a “tone-deaf” post asking for private firefighters to protect his Pacific Palisades mansion while emergency services scrambled to save residents as the area burned to the ground. Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, took to X (formerly Twitter) pleading for help, offering to pay “any amount” for private firefighters to save his home from a raging wildfire.
“Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors’ houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you,” Keith Wasserman wrote. This post, which came as a massive wildfire tore through the hillside, was met with intense backlash. Commenters quickly accused Keith Wasserman of having incredible nerve, especially given the ongoing evacuation efforts and the fact that many other homes in the area were at risk.
One user, Sam Vance, blasted Keith Wasserman for trying to hire private firefighters while his family was evacuated. “Incredible nerve. His family is evacuated and he’s trying to hire private firefighters to risk their lives to save a home he most certainly has insured,” Vance wrote.
The response to Keith Wasserman‘s post was swift, with many pointing out the glaring disparity between the billionaire’s request and the dire situation facing other residents. User Jacquie remarked, “If you find yourself tweeting for private firefighters to protect your property, you should probably question what you have become as a human being.”
Despite the criticism, Keith Wasserman defended himself, stating that he had already evacuated and was only trying to protect homes. The backlash continued to grow as the fire, which forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, continued to ravage the Pacific Palisades area.
Keith Wasserman‘s post quickly went viral, with some mocking the CEO by comparing his actions to scenes from The Morning Show, where a rich character faces criticism for prioritizing his own property while others are left in danger. Others shared images of the Titanic, with a passenger asking, “Will the lifeboats be seated according to class?”
At the time of writing, Keith Wasserman‘s post had received over 900,000 views and nearly 500 replies. The controversy highlights a larger conversation about the disparity between the wealthy and ordinary people during times of crisis.
Despite the intense criticism, some users expressed sympathy for Keith Wasserman, acknowledging the chaos the wildfire had caused. However, the overall sentiment remained largely negative, with many questioning the ethics of offering private firefighters while so many others were left to face the danger alone.
The fire, which has already destroyed numerous structures and forced evacuations across the region, continues to burn out of control. Keith Wasserman‘s actions have certainly left a lasting impression, but not the kind of attention he likely hoped for.
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