State Farm U-Turns on Coverage After ‘Jake’ Trolled Online
Insurance company State Farm has announced it will offer insurance renewals to Los Angeles residents that it had planned to drop.
The Daily Mail reported that the company said thousands of residents would now be able to renew policies in L.A. County. However, this does not apply to those whose policies had already lapsed when the fires started on Jan. 7.
The move comes after iconic actor who plays “Jake from State Farm” was attacked online after the insurance agency canceled policies just before the California wildfires.
The actor was targeted after State Farm cancelled fire insurance policies just months before the deadly fires.
In May 2023, the company said it would not be taking any new customers in California for homeowners’ insurance. Existing plans were then cancelled for 72,000 homes in April 2024.
Now, actor Kevin Miles, who plays “Jake from State Farm” is coping the brunt of online anger.
One commenter on social media said about Miles, you’re “selling your soul.” Another accused Miles’ employer of being “diabolical” for canceling insurance plans so soon before the disaster.
Miles has not commented on the controversy.
State Farm defended itself saying, “We are focused on our customers and helping them recover from the largest fire event we have ever experienced in the state.”
The company further said it has received 7,850 home and auto claims, and taunted having “already put over $50 million back into customers’ hands” in the areas impacted by the fire.
POV Jake a from state farm rn... pic.twitter.com/S5ZTvAcZCY
— Burning Bunny (@Fedsurrection20) January 13, 2025
State Farm’s CEO, Jon Farnes, has also been the subject of online attacks. Some evoked Luigi Mangione, the assassin of the United HealthCare CEO, in the attacks.
One poster said about the CEO, “I understand Luigi Mangione now.”
“Jake from State Farm… Yes… We cancelled your insurance… but we’re going to let the Rams and Vikings play in State Farm stadium this weekend” pic.twitter.com/TTrtrx6Lip
— AB (@AB84) January 10, 2025
At least 200,000 people have been displaced from their homes, and nearly another 200,000 may have to evacuate as the historic catastrophe spreads, already having burnt an area the size of the nation’s capital. At least 12,000 buildings have already been engulfed in flames, and 27 people have died.