If you had told our late-aughts selves that the world — fine, the internet — would one day be rallying around Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, we simply wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are. Last week, the formerly fame-thirsty, paparazzi-obsessed couple known as “Speidi” — who, post-Hills stardom, had been living a crystal-filled but otherwise seemingly low-key life in the Pacific Palisades — shared that they were among the thousands of people who lost their homes to the Southern California wildfires. Since then, the hummingbird whisperer has documented the aftermath for his millions of social media followers, posting videos that range from stark and somber (walking around their former neighborhood, sharing what he packed in his evacuation suitcase) to surprisingly humorous (see: one of the items from their home that did survive) to downright endearing (who among us hasn’t done an interpretive dance to Enya?).  

People seem to be so touched by Pratt’s unexpectedly vulnerable side (never forget he was once voted the least appealing male celebrity in America) that when he asked followers to stream Montag’s 2010 album, Superficial, to help the family financially recover, the internet banded together. Nostalgic millennials, online personalities (like Perez Hilton, who gleefully skewered the couple back in the day), celebrities (looking at you, Paris Hilton), and even former MTV castmates have jumped on the Superficial train — sending the 15-year-old album to No. 1 on iTunes. Not to mention that the song “I’ll Do It,” which went viral in 2023, has reached even greater heights, taking over clubs and radio airwaves. Montag — who recently appeared on a massive Times Square billboard — told GMA that the “life-changing” support “has been such a light in such a darkness.” As for what’s next on the road ahead: Topping the Billboard charts? An Erewhon smoothie collab perhaps? Another reality TV comeback? Whatever it is, Speidi, we’re rooting for you.