Tyra Banks Reveals Heartbreaking Moment She Learned Her Home Was Gone In L.A. Fires

Tyra Banks has broken her silence about the devastating loss of her home in the recent Los Angeles wildfires, sharing the heartbreaking moment she learned her house had been destroyed.

In an emotional interview on the Australian morning show “Sunrise” on Monday, Tyra Banks described the shock and disbelief she felt upon receiving the life-altering news.

The former “America’s Next Top Model” host revealed that she and her partner, Louis Bélanger-Martin, lost their Los Angeles home to the fires, explaining why she had been reluctant to discuss the tragedy publicly. “I just didn’t want to pull a lot of attention to me,” the 51-year-old said. “I feel like there’s a lot of people that need that attention. … But I can’t sit here and not tell the truth.”

Banks went on to recount the moment she learned of the destruction. “We were at a friend’s house here, and we were celebrating and having fun,” she recalled. “I kept checking my phone, not for my house, but for friends and family, making sure they were evacuating and everything. And then I asked my partner, I was like, ‘I’m seeing something here, what do you think?’ and he [nodded].”

Despite the devastating news, Banks chose to remain composed. “I pulled it together and just didn’t say anything to my friends and just stayed in the moment,” she shared. “And then we went home, and we cried, and we had our moment.”

The Emmy-winning TV personality clarified that she, Bélanger-Martin, and her 8-year-old son, York, primarily divide their time between homes in New York and Australia, where many of their cherished keepsakes are stored. “A lot of those memento-mementos are here and in New York, so I didn’t lose that, thank goodness,” she assured viewers. However, Banks acknowledged, “There were some mementos that we lost. … It’s tough.”

Following the interview, Banks addressed her followers on Instagram, posting a video captioned, “I feel weird," and opening up about how life has been and what the future holds.

"My head's been down, I haven't really been out there, except on a Victoria's Secret runway recently," Banks said in her video. "But I've just been in ice cream world. I've just been focused, just been tongue out, [...] strategizing, working hard, not sleeping, and to be here in Australia and to be able to talk about my dream on 'Sunrise' today with Matt and Nat, or with Kylie and Jackie O today on the radio [...] that felt nice."

Fans flooded the comments section to share their support for the actress, with one of her followers writing, "Just like a butterfly, sometimes you have to 'disappear' for a second to evolve. Sending so many smizes your way!"

"I love you beyond words," another said.

"I feel weird too and a little lost, but God's will I shall prevail," a third expressed.

Banks joins a growing list of celebrities whose homes have been reduced to ash in the wildfires, including Candy Spelling, Anna Faris, Cameron Mathison, Diane Warren, and Paris Hilton. Others, like Kid Cudi, Mario Lopez, and Bebe Rexha, have shared their evacuation experiences as the fires spread rapidly.

Tragically, at least 27 people have lost their lives as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought and strong winds, continue to ravage the Los Angeles area.

Firefighters have been battling blazes across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. At the height of the crisis, over 200,000 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders. While many of these orders have been lifted thanks to increased containment, the two largest fires—the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena—remain active.

The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7, has destroyed or damaged over 6,000 structures, covering more than 23,700 acres with 59% containment as of now. The Eaton Fire, also ignited on January 7, has burned over 14,000 acres, destroying or damaging more than 10,000 structures. It is currently at 87% containment.