The raging wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed over 10,000 buildings, including a significant number of luxurious homes belonging to Hollywood celebrities. Rumors surfaced online on the 12th claiming that renowned director Feng Xiaogang’s two mansions in Los Angeles were also engulfed in the flames; however, on the 14th, Feng Xiaogang took to social media to deny the allegations.
For a week now, the wildfires in Los Angeles have devoured over 12,000 structures, turning many neighborhoods where celebrities and wealthy individuals reside into smoky ruins resembling scenes from doomsday movies. There were online rumors indicating that Feng Xiaogang’s two purchased mansions in the area were also destroyed by the fierce inferno.
On the 14th, Feng Xiaogang spoke out on his personal social media platform to dismiss the claims: “Friends have been inquiring continuously in the past few days, and I’m here to debunk the rumors. Firstly, I’ve been filming in Haikou and am safe and sound. Secondly, none of my properties have been burned. Please do not blindly believe the rumors circulating. To those who take pleasure in others’ misfortunes, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Rest assured, if anything unfortunate happens to me, I will inform you immediately.” Feng Xiaogang also warned that those spreading rumors or participating in spreading them will face legal consequences.
Earlier reports stated that Feng Xiaogang owned at least two properties in Los Angeles. As early as 2014, Feng Xiaogang purchased a mansion in LA for $5 million, and in 2018, he acquired another valued at $6 million.
In October 2022, a viral video showed Feng Xiaogang and his wife, Xu Fan, seeing off guests at their mansion as night fell. Both were dressed casually, wearing slippers, giving off a homey vibe. The footage even captured Xu Fan warmly embracing a female friend before bidding farewell. Through the video’s street views, netizens used Google Maps to locate Feng Xiaogang’s mansion in Los Angeles.
A well-known Weibo influencer, Wei Guan, shared a photo on October 28, 2022, showcasing Feng Xiaogang’s mansion in the United States, with a caption reading: “Since the dispute with Cui Yongyuan over ‘Cell Phone 2,’ Feng Xiaogang has been down on his luck. Following the imprisonment of his two proteges, Wu Yifan (Kris Wu) and Li Yifeng, he completely lost interest, washed his hands of the film industry, and retired with his wife in the United States.”
Now, the wildfires in Los Angeles, which have been burning for over a week, may continue to spread aided by strong winds. Governor Gavin Newsom of California mentioned that this fire could become the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history. In terms of insurance losses, it has already become the costliest wildfire. Major commercial banks like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have announced plans to ease mortgage repayment conditions for those affected by the fires.
According to the mainland Chinese media outlet “Red Star News,” Feng Xiaogang’s latest directorial work, “Spy Catcher,” began filming at the end of October last year and has recently wrapped production. The film stars Lei Jiayin and Hu Ge in leading roles.
In recent years, Feng Xiaogang has been rumored to emigrate to the United States several times. He previously clarified that he was only sending his daughter to study in the U.S. Chinese media reported that Feng Xiaogang released a statement to refute claims of himself and his wife, Xu Fan, immigrating overseas, stating that the circulated photos were taken when he and Xu Fan were seeing their child off to school.