Sitcom set in post-Eaton Fire Altadena drawing controversy

It’s been less than a year since the Eaton Fire ravaged Altadena, with many families still healing and coming to terms with devastating losses.  

Amid this long, difficult process, it was recently announced that a sitcom set in post-Eaton Fire Altadena was in the works. The show is being spearheaded by “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris and is set to star Mike Epps. 

According to Deadline, the comedy is created and written by Barris and comes from BET Studios – where Barris is a principal – and is co-produced by CBS Studios. 

“In the untitled half-hour, after wildfires sweep through Altadena, two estranged Black brothers — one played by Epps — reunite to sell their late grandmother’s house to private developers,” Deadline said of the show’s premise in a report published last month. “But when they learn her caretaker now owns part of the home and refuses to sell, they’re forced to live together and confront their differences — and what community, legacy, and family really mean.”

While the show’s premise is fairly light and taps into comedic elements, people affected by the fire don’t see much to laugh about when it comes to turning the deadly disaster into a sitcom.  

One woman with that mindset is Anjelika Perry, a New Orleans-based artist and community strategist who grew up in Altadena. Speaking to LAist, Perry – whose family lost their homes in the fire – wondered why a sitcom was chosen and not something that shares “real stories.” 

“Why are we sharing a story that is not real about our community when there’s so many real stories to share?” she asked. “And then also the trigger[ing] thing for me was, why a comedy when no one that we know of in the community is a part of this project?”

Perry posted on Instagram shortly after the show’s concept was announced to vocalize her disappointment, and other social media users expressed the same sentiments. 

“Knowing the pitch process timeline for major studios, the fact that it’s already announced as greenlit before the end of August means that it was pitched way less than six months after the fires began, and very likely conceptualized while ashes were still falling and the smoke was still clearing,” user @flavorkit commented. “Watching old friends in Altadena continue to pick up the pieces from afar has been heartbreaking enough. This is just super gross and predatory behavior.” 

“It would’ve been better to create a show that honors Altadena. Being originally from the East Coast, I had no idea about the rich history until the fires,” said another user, @telergenet. “Maybe a show about all the profound Black creators and geniuses that just happen to be neighbors.”

There are some, however, who aren’t inherently opposed to the idea. LAist spoke to Nashon Dion, who identifies herself as a “fourth generation Altadenan” and whose extended family lost all their homes in the fire. She told the outlet that she hopes the production company will hire consultants from the area to help with the show. 

“I presume that the production company will likely employ a consultant or consultants from our beloved Altadena,” Dion said. “I presume and surely hope so because that would be the right thing to do.”  

Dion also hopes that proceeds from a show about Altadena will go back to Altadena. 

“Altadena needs a lot of laughter. We are all grieving,” Dion said. “And at the same time, this is community healing and Altadena needs a tremendous amount of laughter, and if Kenya Barris and Mike Epps are the two individuals to bring it, let’s see it.”