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Bill Hader shared his experience of returning to his home in the Palisades amidst the devastating wildfires that erupted on January 7, revealing an unexpected scene of destruction.
“I arrived at my house thinking it wouldn’t be too bad. But stepping inside, I encountered dust and toxic debris everywhere,” he recounted during an appearance on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast.
Hader described the moment as shocking, expressing that he had hoped his house would be somewhat intact so he could retrieve important belongings like his passport. While his home remains standing, he noted it is “not livable.”
To gain access to his property, Hader explained how he persuaded a news crew to take him with them. He had been filming a Volkswagen commercial for “Californians” alongside fellow “SNL” alum Kristen Wiig when the fires broke out.
“Kristen warned me earlier that morning about a severe windstorm and the potential for fires,” he recalled. “While filming, I noticed smoke and was informed that it was in the Palisades. That’s when I realized, ‘I live in the Palisades.’ The atmosphere turned heavy with silence, and I knew I had to leave.”
Hader detailed his attempts to get through police barricades, explaining he needed to retrieve medication, which he insists was a genuine reason. After receiving refusals from authorities, he approached news crews, asking, “Do you recognize me?” until one of them offered him a ride.
Although he initially planned to give an interview in front of his house, Hader mentioned that as the news crew witnessed his emotional response to the devastation, they opted to turn off the cameras. He expressed feeling “speechless” in the face of the destruction.
“I sensed that the crew wanted to extract a compelling interview, but seeing my reaction hit them, so they decided to take me back instead,” he said.
Despite the circumstances, Hader managed to provide a brief interview as he absorbed the impact of the wildfire damage in the Palisades.
Currently, Hader is working on a series about cult leader Jim Jones for HBO. For more insights, viewers can check out his full podcast interview with O’Brien linked above.
Source
www.thewrap.com