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US musician Dave Grohl of rock band Foo Fighters performs on the Orange Stage at Roskilde Festival on July 5, 2024 in Roskilde, Denmark. (Photo by Helle Arensbak / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP) / Denmark OUT (Photo by HELLE ARENSBAK/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images) © Getty

PAY IT FORWARD

Dave Grohl helps LA fire victims and inmate firefighters on his birthday after scandal

The rock star is making positive headlines again 


Jovita Trujillo
Jovita Trujillo - Los Angeles
Senior WriterLos Angeles
JANUARY 15, 2025 6:57 PM EST

Dave Grohl is one of the many celebrities lending a hand amid the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, which have displaced hundreds of thousands. On his 56th birthday, January 14, the Foo Fighters frontman helped Feed The Streets LA, a nonprofit organization that, in addition to its regular outreach programs, has been cooking and feeding victims of the fire as well as inmate firefighters.

Dave Grohl performs with Foo Fighters on Day 6 on April 28, 2024, without a ring © Getty
Dave Grohl

On Tuesday, Feed The Streets shared a video on their Instagram story showing Grohl cooking a large pot of chili. The rockstar wore a hat and sunglasses, seemingly trying to stay low-key while focusing on helping the community.

Dave Grohl was making some good ol fashioned chili© IG: @feedthestreets_la
Dave Grohl was making some good ol fashioned chili

As the fires continue, Canada and Mexico have sent firefighters to assist. Inmate firefighters have also been making headlines for their contributions. Activist and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has been raising awareness, meeting with several inmates earlier this week, and speaking to Bernie Sanders and various news outlets about the situation. On Tuesday, Kim Kardashian shared one of Piker's videos from his broadcast, showing an interview with one of the inmates, on her Instagram story to her 358 million followers.

Inmates (in orange) help firefighters extinguish the last embers in the hills of  Mandeville Canyon after the Palisades Fire burned part of it, on January 13, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. © VALERIE MACON
Inmates (in orange) help firefighters extinguish the last embers in the hills of Mandeville Canyon after the Palisades Fire burned part of it, on January 13, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

While the inmates are being praised for their work, many are shocked by their wages. According to the Los Angeles Times, inmates in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, who make up about 30% of California's wildfire-fighting force and perform the same tasks as regular firefighters, can earn $26.90 for a 24-hour shift. 

Despite the low wages, many of them are just happy to be out of prison, "in the prison yard I'm seeing guys get stabbed, get jumped, get beat up, the cops treat us like s**t, but here we get better treatment right? They talk to us like humans. We got a job. We're underpaid but we got a job. And the community comes out and shows us all kinds of love, we never receive that kind of love, that kind of recognition with anything we've done" said one of the inmates in the video posted by Kardashian.

Daddy Dave Grohl gives back

This marks the first time Grohl has made positive headlines since news broke in September that he fathered a child outside of his marriage. He revealed in an Instagram post, "I've recently become the father of a new baby daughter, born outside of my marriage." He continued, “I plan to be a loving and supportive parent to her. I love my wife and my children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and earn their forgiveness.” The identity of the woman has not been revealed.

Jordyn Blum and Dave Grohl in 2018© Getty
Jordyn Blum and Dave Grohl in 2018

Following the announcement, Grohl was spotted without his wedding ring. Foo Fighters canceled their set at the Soundside Music Festival in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and stayed out of the public eye but returned to posting on social media in November, with their next show seemingly scheduled for July 28 in Manchester.

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