John Legend considers returning to NYC after Los Angeles fires 'shook everyone', including his children
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are thinking about moving their family back to New York City.
The couple, who currently live in Los Angeles, have been considering the move after the devastating California wildfires in January.
John Legend recalls seeing 'flames and billowing smoke from the Palisades fire'
The fires, which killed at least 29 people and displaced thousands, left a strong impact on John Legend and his family.
The 'All of Me' singer shared that each time a disaster strikes, they rethink staying in the City of Angels.
He revealed they returned to Los Angeles from vacation on January 7, only to witness the destruction firsthand.
"Chrissy and I have always considered returning to New York, where we once lived. We probably will, once our youngest ones grow up a bit,” Legend told The Wall Street Journal.
He referred to his younger children, Esti Maxine and Wren Alexander, both one, while he and Teigen also share Luna Simone, eight, and Miles Theodore, six.
He recalled seeing "flames and billowing smoke from the Palisades fire" and how their concerns grew as they watched the unfolding devastation.
"Every time nature shows its wrath, we wonder if it’s time to head back east. Who knows?” Legend added.
John Legend says 'the danger felt too close for comfort'
On January 9, the couple decided to evacuate. John Legend and his wife gathered their four children, four dogs, and a bearded dragon, and drove south to a hotel in Carlsbad.
"We didn’t return until the following week,” he told the publication.
However, their "home was safe, but many weren’t so fortunate, and the threat still looms,” he added.
“The fires were a collective trauma that shook everyone, including our kids," he continued.
John Legend says 'New York is always going to be my favorite city'
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen previously owned a home in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan, which they sold for $18 million in 2022.
The property was made up of two penthouses they had planned to combine, but their Los Angeles work commitments made staying there more practical.
In a 2020 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Legend revealed that he and his family plan to focus on their Los Angeles home, as per People.
"We've realized... we're really mostly going to be in Los Angeles," he said. As a result, they will prioritize building and renovating their LA home.
At the time, he acknowledged how much they loved the city but admitted they weren’t there enough to justify the effort.
However, New York still holds a special place in his heart. “I miss it all the time,” he shared, adding "New York is always going to be my favorite city.”
