Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag addressed the criticism they’ve faced for asking for donations after their home was destroyed in the recent Southern California wildfires, explaining that the “backlash” doesn’t bother them.
“We’re very used to negative things, so it’s pretty standard,” Pratt, 41, shared exclusively on Wednesday, January 15.
“If people want to send their own money to whoever they want, it’s the equivalent of buying a celebrity’s merch or movie tickets. People can choose what to do with their own money, and thankfully, there are people who want to support us.”
Pratt added, “No one’s required to contribute, and it’s not a tax. People are entitled to their opinions. But those who are messaging us, asking to send money or follow our Amazon wishlist… these are their choices.”
Pratt and Montag, 38, lost their Los Angeles home earlier this month to the ongoing wildfires that have ravaged Southern California, destroying thousands of acres and causing at least 25 deaths.
Many residents, including the The Hills alums, evacuated the area after mandatory evacuation orders were issued.
The couple fled with their children, Gunner, 6, and Ryker, 2, taking only a few personal items. After losing most of their belongings, a pair of TikTok followers started a GoFundMe campaign on their behalf.
“When this first happened, on the first day, they created a GoFundMe for us, and it just did really well,” Pratt explained. “Then they transferred it over to us, and we’re so grateful they did that and set up our Amazon wishlist.”
Montag added that neither she nor Pratt had planned to ask for contributions.
“Our friends Brandon and Courtney from TikTok said, ‘We don’t care what you say. We know people want to donate to you, even if it’s just one donation that can help,’” she recalled. “We had no expectation of anyone donating. I haven’t posted about it, but we’ve received so many people offering $5.”
As of now, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $134,000, with some donations as small as $5. Pratt emphasized that it’s not the amount that matters, but the gesture itself.
“People are like, ‘Oh, they’re asking for money,’” he said. “That’s just a coffee for someone. So, somebody bought us a coffee. It’s just in volume. It may look like all it is is money, but if you scroll through, you’ll see it’s just people sending us a latte.”
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag (Photo: Getty Images)
“There are some bigger donations, and I’ve thanked every single person.”
Pratt also theorized that the backlash stems from the misconception that all celebrities are extremely wealthy.
“Nobody thought we were rich celebrities until three days ago, and it’s getting frustrating,” Pratt shared. “If you Google ‘Spencer,’ it literally says, ‘Broke, no net worth.’ My net worth has been listed as $1,000 for the last 15 years. Now our house burns down, and people suddenly think we’re rich celebrities, which is infuriating. The media has never called us celebrities or rich.”
Pratt continued, “There’s this weird disconnect where we’re being grouped in with actual rich celebrities. It would be great if we were, but we’re not. People know that.”
He added that the criticism is coming from “just haters” and that those who have been following their social media know they’re not wealthy.
“Anyone with a brain doesn’t think we’re rich celebrities,” he said. “These are just trolls. Our supporters know we’re not rich celebrities. They see what we do every day. We’ve posted our lives on Snapchat for the last 11 years, all day long. Our audience knows we’re not rich. They know we just eat Mexican food, get organic eggs, and live simply.”
Along with the GoFundMe and Amazon wishlist donations, Pratt and Montag have received support from their business ventures and social media.
Pratt’s shop, Pratt Daddy Crystals, has seen increased sales, and Montag’s music has been frequently streamed. Additionally, they’re part of the TikTok Creator Fund, which pays influencers based on engagement, and a similar program on Snapchat.
“Heidi’s No. 1 in 13 countries,” Pratt gushed. “I didn’t know people in Oman, the Netherlands, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and all these countries would support her. I hope, God willing, she becomes a global superstar. We could visit these people who supported us when we needed it most.”
Their former MTV co-stars, Kristin Cavallari, Audrina Patridge, and Lo Bosworth, have also shared videos of themselves dancing to songs from Montag’s 2010 album *Superficial*.
Montag expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, especially from those with large platforms.
“The support from people using their platforms to help us, knowing how important each post is to them and their brands, has been amazing,” Montag said. “We’ve never experienced this kind of support, kindness, or acknowledgment for something so important. It’s been heartwarming.”
Pratt, who has been open about their financial situation on social media, explained that they had invested everything into their home.
“We put all of our money into our house and our life to build something for our kids to put in their name,” Pratt shared. “Our house was 3,000 square feet.
It’s not a mansion in the Palisades, but everything was perfect, from the stoves to the washing machines. That’s all we put our money into — and then we eat clean groceries and that’s it. We go on one trip a year to visit Heidi’s parents in Colorado.”
Pratt concluded, “Any money we make from TV or social media opportunities is just paycheck to paycheck. So the whole ‘Heidi and Spencer are these rich celebrities asking for money’ narrative is frustrating. I wish I were a rich celebrity. If I were, I’d be in Cabo right now eating tacos.”
