TMZ Live

Danny Trejo is sending a stern message to his celebrity peers, including Kim Kardashian -- stop using the Los Angeles wildfires to push your own causes!!!

The actor tells TMZ ... he doesn't believe now is the time for Hollywood's elite to get on their respective soapboxes to peddle different causes ... especially since brutal blazes are burning across the region right now.

As he sees it ... helping the victims should be the sole focus -- even if many celebs, such a Kim, are well intended.

Jay Leno is determined to do what he can to help the Los Angeles firefighters combatting the ongoing wildfires in the region ... comparing their efforts to a "military operation."

The celebrated comedian joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, where he revealed his mission to help feed the dedicated first responders who are putting their lives on the line to tackle the stubborn infernos plaguing the City of Angels.

While Jay joked these firefighters can really eat, he made it clear he was happy to be of service ... especially after witnessing the conditions they are facing.

Spencer Pratt says he feels like a ghost after losing everything he has in the Pacific Palisades wildfire ... and the weight of starting life from zero and figuring out a way to provide for his family is hitting him hard.

The reality TV star joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" and he opened up to us about watching his life literally go up in smoke ... and it's emotional.

Spencer was born and raised in the Palisades and he says losing his house, all his possessions and his parents' house makes him feel empty and hollow.

A massive rebuild is needed in Los Angeles after devastating wildfires wiped entire neighborhoods off the map, and local architect John Cordic says the city can be reconstructed in a couple years ... as long as city officials get on board.

John joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and we asked him the question on a lot of folks' minds ... how long is it going to take to rebuild L.A.?!?

With over 12,000 structures burned to a crisp in the Palisades and Eaton fires, it's a monumental task that will require a Herculean effort ... but John says architects and engineers are ready to get to work ASAP ... and he thinks 2 to 3 years is the best-case scenario.

Deadly L.A. wildfires have destroyed homes and businesses this week ... and the massive blazes have also upended local ecosystems to a horrifying degree.

Jeff Corwin tells TMZ ... right now the focus of the fires is -- properly -- on people dying and homes turned to ash. But, domestic and wild animals have also been severely affected in this "unprecedented catastrophe."

The famed biologist host points out there's only 350 California condors left in existence … “and a significant portion of the population lives in ground zero of the Palisades fires” -- so there is a chance they could end up nearly wiped out.

William McNamara might be an actor ... but the only acting he did this week was acting like a hero -- 'cause he saved multiple animals left behind in the Pacific Palisades wildfire.

The longtime film and TV actor joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and, we had a ton of questions about his animal rescue operations this week -- kicking off when officers closed the roads into the Palisades.

McNamara explains some people left animals at home and went out for the night ... and, when they tried to come back to rescue the animals, cops wouldn't allow them in.

Adam Carolla is one of many people caught in the uncertainty of the L.A. wildfires, unsure if his Malibu home is still standing -- but he says, unfortunately, it comes with the territory when you live there.

The comedian joined "TMZ Live" from Las Vegas Thursday, where he's performing, and didn’t hold back ... saying if people choose to live in fire-prone areas, like Malibu, that’s their prerogative -- and he believes they will go back and rebuild.

However, he says he gets it if insurance companies don't want to cover people living in a "place that's gonna catch on fire every 15 minutes."

"All My Children" star Cameron Mathison has shared harrowing visuals of where his Altadena home once stood -- and now he’s revealing the full story of losing it in the raging Eaton Fire.

Cameron stopped by "TMZ Live" Wednesday amid all the devastation -- and his shock was clear, as he recalled seeing what started as a small glow in Eaton Canyon above L.A. Tuesday evening, only to return the next day to find his home reduced to nothing.

Cameron told us everything -- how he grabbed a few things to evacuate last night, and hit up his estranged wife’s place, before rushing back to save some sentimental stuff.

Justin Baldoni's lawyer says Blake Lively's publicist is "dead in the water" because he has evidence of her alleged smear campaign against him ... but TMZ knows A LOT about how publicists work in Hollywood, and we made it clear ... the smear goes both ways.

The "It Ends With Us" director's attorney, Bryan Freedman, joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and told us he's crafting up a lawsuit against Blake's PR person, Leslie Sloane.

Freedman says he has receipts showing Sloane planted negative stories about Baldoni in the press during Justin's beef with his "It Ends With Us" costar.

The wife of a Texas man convicted and imprisoned for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots tells us she’s in touch with the Trump administration about his possible pardon -- and she’s confident he’ll be released.

Nicole Reffitt, wife of Guy Reffitt -- currently serving an 80-month sentence -- told "TMZ Live" Monday that while the incoming Trump administration hasn’t shared exact plans, she’s been told to stay ready for action when Trump steps into the Oval Office on day one, January 20.

You’ve gotta see the video -- Nicole’s confidence in her husband’s release is crystal clear, and she thinks pardoning him, or commuting his sentence, along with others hit with what she says are overblown charges could actually help unite the public.

A former military veteran is offering insight based on his personal experiences at war, using them to illustrate how Shamsud-Din Jabbar's military background likely made him more susceptible to radicalization ahead of his ISIS-inspired New Orleans attack.

Kristofer Goldsmith, a U.S. Army vet, appeared on "TMZ Live" Thursday, explaining during his time in service, he witnessed so much anger-induced violence he carried that emotion home -- and it pushed him to the edge of radicalization.

He also explains how ISIS preys on people with specific skills and character traits -- like Jabbar and former Special Forces vet Matthew Livelsberger, who carried out the Cybertruck bombing the same day.

Ryan Seacrest is pulling back the curtain on "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" ... revealing it's a longer day than many realize -- and, he needs some pain relief to weather the storm.

The talk and game show host stopped by "TMZ Live" Tuesday while walking around Times Square before the night's festivities kick off ... saying it looks beautiful in NYC right now -- but, it's expected to start pouring when they get on the air.

While the show doesn't start until 8 PM ET, Ryan's already preparing for the show ... explaining the production is in dress rehearsal mode -- and, as performers do a dry run of their shows, Ryan and the rest of the crew will run what they can too.

New technology could transform the way our legal system works ... because a judge in Florida put on a virtual reality headset to get a better sense of a defendant's testimony.

Attorney Ken Padowitz is using VR to defend his client in a criminal case, and he joined us on "TMZ Live" to explain how the fancy tech is being introduced to the legal system.

Ken's client is Miguel Albisu ... the guy owns a wedding venue in Florida and is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Albisu brandished a gun at a wedding reception, but says he was acting in self-defense after some of the attendees started getting rowdy.

The star of "Mufasa: The Lion King" says he didn't know who most of his other costars were until earlier this year ... though he always figured the script would attract massive stars.

Braelyn Rankins -- voice of young Mufasa in the upcoming Disney "The Lion King" prequel -- was on "TMZ Live" for an interview Thursday ... and, he tells us he only knew limited information about the movie when he was filming his part.

Rankins tells us that -- outside of the actors he personally worked with -- he had no idea who would be in the film ... so no indication he would star alongside Beyoncé, her daughter Blue Ivy, Thandiwe Newton or the like.

An ex-neighbor of the California man accused of plotting a local mass shooting in a coordinated attack with the Wisconsin school shooter is speaking out ... telling TMZ about the chilling, ominous energy he always carried.

The woman, choosing to remain anonymous, talked to us on "TMZ Live" Thursday, revealing that during the 5 to 6 years she lived near 20-year-old Alexander Paffendorf, he exhibited seriously creepy behavior -- never talking, avoiding eye contact, always wearing his hood up, and other unsettling anti-social habits.

Catch the video, because she dives into the specific moments when Paffendorf made her feel super uncomfortable around their apartment complex -- and it’s spine-chilling.

Shaquille O'Neal is opening up on his decision to go above and beyond to help the youth every holiday season ... admitting he used to be a "high-level juvenile delinquent," but is doing everything in his power to make his mama proud now.

The four-time NBA champion chopped it up with Charles and Babcock on "TMZ Live" after another successful annual "Shaq-A-Claus" event ... where he handed out tons of toys, clothes, tech and food to more than a thousand youngins in Georgia.

Shaq credits his mother -- Lucille O'Neal -- for coming up with the idea for the event ... and considering he wasn't on his best behavior growing up, he's making amends with his actions in the present.