Hollywood Exodus: Patricia Heaton and Others Cite Crime, Taxes as Reasons for Leaving Los Angeles
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Los Angeles is experiencing a notable shift as prominent figures in the entertainment industry increasingly choose to relocate, citing concerns over rising crime rates, high taxes, and a growing sense of unease. Actress Patricia Heaton publicly explained her decision to leave the city, a sentiment echoed by comedian John O’Hurley and, reportedly, numerous writers who have returned to their hometowns.
Heaton’s Departure and Growing Concerns
During a Monday podcast interview on “The Rubin Report,” Heaton detailed her reasons for leaving Los Angeles,pointing to a confluence of factors that made remaining in the city increasingly untenable. “We had filmed it in Oklahoma, and then we were filming something somewhere else, and it was outside of LA,” she explained to host Dave Rubin. “And we just thought that the taxes are high. The crime is high. The homelessness is high, and we’re not working in LA as much as we’re working outside of LA. So, why don’t we leave?”
Heaton and her family ultimately settled in Nashville, a city with which they were already familiar. “And so we just said, ‘Let’s go to Nashville as we were familiar with it.’ we had friends there and, you know, we really haven’t looked back,” she stated. She added that a sense of sadness pervades the city, even for those no longer actively working there.
A Shrinking Industry and Empty Soundstages
The shift isn’t solely about quality of life; it also reflects a changing landscape for the entertainment industry itself. Heaton noted the increasing number of productions taking place outside of California. She highlighted the stark reality of empty soundstages in los Angeles, including the Warner Ranch lot where iconic sets like those from “The Walton’s,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Bewitched,” and “Friends” once stood. “That was all razed to the ground, and they built a ton of soundstages. And then the pandemic happened and the strikes all happened, and there’s just a bunch of empty soundstages there now,” she said.
Criticism of Local Response to Crises
Heaton has also been vocal about her dissatisfaction with the local government’s response to crises, particularly the wildfires that impacted the area earlier this year. Following the January 7th fires in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, she partnered with the LA Dream Center to aid residents in need and publicly criticized officials. “I know some of the officials were saying, ‘Well, the system was overwhelmed.’ Well, in case of a huge fire, of course its going to be overwhelmed,” she told Fox News Digital in January. “You should know that and have been prepared for that. So, I think there’s a lot of money spent in LA, and we can’t figure out where it’s going.” She emphasized the importance of community-led solutions, stating, “It’s people coming together in your community and insisting on getting stuff done.”
John O’Hurley’s Reluctant Exit
Comedian and actor John O’Hurley expressed a similar sentiment during a November interview on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” admitting he is “reluctantly” still living in Los Angeles but anticipates a move in the near future. O’Hurley explained that much of his current work, particularly voice acting, can be done remotely or requires only brief travel to other locations. He revealed that he filmed five movies this year,none of which were shot in Los Angeles,and that a growing number of projects are being filmed in states like Georgia,Tennessee,and New York.
The trend suggests a broader reevaluation of Los Angeles as a hub for the entertainment industry, driven by economic pressures, safety concerns, and a desire for a different lifestyle. As more industry professionals seek alternatives, the future of Hollywood’s dominance remains uncertain.
