Jennifer Garner faced more grief as she lost a dear friend in the California wildfires not long after losing a beloved family member (her dog).
In an emotional MSNBC interview with Katy Tur, the 52 – year – old actress said, “I did lose a friend who didn’t get out in time.” She was heartbroken for her friends and all the affected families, with 5,000 homes lost. Feeling guilty about her own safety, she wondered how she could help.
Garner partnered with Chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen to assist affected communities. She used her celebrity status to join their efforts, saying, “Please, can I come with you?” She also mentioned Save the Children and the Red Cross working together to help shelters. She praised Andrés for quickly mobilizing relief.
The story of Rory Sykes shows the tragic toll of the wildfires. The former child star from the UK died in the Malibu fires. His mother, Shelley Sykes, announced his death on X, calling him a “true humanitarian” who overcame blindness and cerebral palsy. As of January 12, 24 fire – related deaths were confirmed in Los Angeles County.
Before the wildfires, in November 2024, just a day before Thanksgiving, Garner mourned the loss of her dog, Birdie. In an Instagram post, she said it was hard to write about, but since they’d shared Birdie with followers, she wanted to let them know. Birdie suddenly fell ill, and the vet said she was at the end of her life. Garner was grateful that one of her kids was home from college, so they could spend Birdie’s last moments together.
Birdie was more than a pet; she was in Garner’s “Pretend Cooking Show” and was a therapy dog. Garner’s post about Birdie got a lot of condolences. Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Aniston, and Ina Garten all expressed their sympathies.
Despite her losses, Garner focused on helping affected communities in the California wildfires, showing the value of collective action.
