Plenty of viewers took to social media to point out how inappropriate the timing of the reporter’s interruption was.
“Not them interviewing Dennis Quaid while he frantically tries to pack his belongings to evacuate,” one fan wrote on X.
“Truly one of the worst parasitic paparazzi s**t I’ve ever seen,” a second person complained. “It went on for like 20 minutes, this dude harassing Dennis Quaid and being ridiculously inappropriate crossing boundaries and invading privacy while he’s trying to evacuate.”
“It’s like dude, he does not have time to talk. Every second you waste is something he can’t take with him,” another concerned fan noted.
Meanwhile, the actor’s demeanour earned him praise on social media, with one fan writing, “this interview was an odd mix of bizarre, comical, touching, and somewhat uncomfortable … but what I learned from it is that Dennis Quaid seems like a very nice fella".
“I became an instant new fan of Quaid’s,” another tweeted.
“What a stand-up dude (and especially how sweet he was with his scared dog) in such a stressful moment.”
At least 16 people have been killed since a series of wildfires began around the city on Thursday, with thousands left homeless and more than 12,000 structures razed.
More than 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate as authorities estimate the damage bill already exceeds US$100 billion ($179b).
As of Monday, the Palisades fire was 11% contained but had grown to 9500ha, while the Eaton fire was at 5600ha and 15% contained.
Despite massive efforts, including precision sorties from aerial crews, the Palisades fire has continued to grow, spreading east towards the priceless collections of the Getty Center art museum and north to the densely populated San Fernando Valley.
- Additional reporting by NZ Herald.
