Kat Von D is pushing again after the son of a former landlord publicly accused her of inflicting a devastating hearth that destroyed a historic Hollywood Hills mansion greater than a decade in the past. Teva Barnea, whose household owned the famed “Hollywood Fortress,” not too long ago took to TikTok with a collection of allegations aimed on the movie star tattoo artist, claiming her way of life and actions led to the blaze that consumed the property in 2010. The accusations have reignited a years-old dispute over what precipitated the fireplace and who was in the end accountable.
In a TikTok video, Barnea claimed Kat Von D incessantly stuffed the house with candles whereas renting the property. “I noticed the best way that she lived, and it was weird,” Barnea mentioned. “There have been candles in all places. Candles of all sizes, huge, small, broad, each single nook, each mantle, down the steps, alongside the partitions, actually in all places.”
“Shocker, the home burned,” he added. The hearth destroyed a lot of the sprawling Hollywood Hills mansion, killed Von D’s pet cat Valentine, and reportedly worn out a lot of her private belongings.
Longstanding Dispute Over What Induced The Blaze
In response to Barnea, insurance coverage investigations performed after the fireplace concluded that unattended candles had been liable for igniting the blaze. Von D, nevertheless, has lengthy disputed that model of occasions.
The previous “LA Ink” star has persistently maintained that defective wiring precipitated the fireplace and has identified that she was not residence when it broke out. The dispute finally resulted in authorized motion between the events, with either side arguing over the supply of the devastating hearth.
Teva Barnea Claims Fireplace Contributed To His Mom’s Dying
Past blaming Von D for the destruction of the property, Barnea additionally alleged the aftermath of the fireplace took a big toll on his late mom, Debra Dresbach.
In response to Barnea, the years of litigation, restoration work, and stress surrounding the incident contributed to her declining well being earlier than she died from most cancers in January 2025 at age 70. He claimed “the stress of the fires and the restoration course of and the lawsuit” precipitated her most cancers to return.
Barnea additionally accused Von D of sending his mom “spiteful, hateful emails” and described the truth tv star as “a liar, a narcissist, actually a imply particular person.”
Following the viral TikTok movies, Von D launched a press release of her personal on social media, denying Barnea’s accusations. “This week, I’ve been accused of burning down a home and contributing to the dying of a lady with most cancers,” she mentioned. “Teva is accusing me of burning down his mom’s home as a result of I used to be lighting candles, which isn’t true. I wasn’t even within the residence when the fireplace occurred. I used to be on a e-book tour.”
Barnea Says Paperwork Assist His Claims
After Von D publicly denied duty, Barnea posted a second TikTok video during which he claimed to own official data associated to the fireplace investigation. Holding up what he described as authentic hearth paperwork, Barnea pointed to 1 particular conclusion. “No ignition sources aside from candles had been recognized throughout the hearth’s space of origin,” he mentioned.
Neither Barnea’s claims nor the paperwork he referenced have been independently verified by The Blast.
Regardless of the devastating hearth, the Hollywood Fortress has since been restored. Barnea now reportedly lives within the property after inheriting it following his mom’s dying.
Teva Barnea Explains Why He’s Talking Out Now
Because the controversy continues to realize consideration on-line, Barnea says the rationale he selected to share his household’s story now could be that his mom is not right here to inform it herself. In a brand new assertion to PEOPLE, he defined that he remained quiet for years out of respect for his late mom, Debra Dresbach, who spent years preventing authorized battles related to the fireplace.
“Effectively, it wasn’t my story to inform as long as my mother was right here, it was hers. And he or she fought so arduous for years, to be my mother whereas dealing with the specter of shedding the whole lot she labored for. All as a result of the one who negligently left candles burning didn’t need to admit it,” he claims.
Barnea went on to allege that Von D by no means accepted duty for the injury attributable to the fireplace. “If she had it her method, she’d have taken the whole lot from us, and left us with nothing. Not even an oz. of compensation. And positively not an apology.”
Regardless of the renewed consideration surrounding the years-old dispute, Barnea insisted his determination to talk publicly is about sharing what he believes occurred relatively than searching for additional validation. “I’m telling the story as a result of I imagine some tales need to be instructed,” he mentioned. “No must justify that.”
