California fires threaten Sandra Lee's new dream post Cuomo split, cancer battle
Sandra Lee is no stranger to heartbreak.
From the deaths of her beloved aunts and uncles — who were parental figures to her — to her breakup with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and her battle with breast cancer, the Food Network star has always shown resilience. Now, Lee, who was evacuated from his Malibu home due to the wildfires in LA on Tuesday, may be facing another possible loss.
On Jan. 7, Lee shared shocking photos of the fire burning through the mountains near his home.
“My home in Malibu has brought me through some of the darkest moments of my life,” she wrote in the caption. “I've loved creating it, decorating it, building it, caring for it, and protecting it. I've enjoyed every moment I've had. As the fire approaches, I'm praying for it – I'm praying for everyone in Los Angeles right now.
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Sandra Lee left her home in Malibu on Jan. 7 due to the LA wildfires. (Getty Images)
“As the fire comes to our door, please get in touch; the community in times like this is our territory,” he added. “We are all safe but the fire is getting closer to my piece of heaven in Malibu. When I was a waitress at the Malibu Adobe back in 1989, I dreamed of having a home like this (KIMI) and working for it. I am saddened, but I send all my love to all the first responders and firefighters who give their all to keep us safe!!!”
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A day later, Lee told her fans that her house was “gone” in an emotional video posted on Instagram.
“For all your prayers – Thank you. I'm trying to process all of this… I'm just so thankful that we're all safe,” a visibly upset Lee said in the video. “My home is gone – I cried all night and thought about every room, nook, and cranny. It was perfect and now it's Ash. Please keep our community, firefighters and first responders in your prayers. This is not over – not even close.”
On Thursday, however, Lee shared that he is not sure if his home is still standing, as he has received conflicting reports.
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“Last night I was told that my house was on fire, I didn't sleep all night. All I could do was cry and think about it. An hour ago I received a call from my real estate agent saying that my house is still there, as were the neighboring houses,” he wrote on Instagram. “My neighbor got a call from a dear friend of hers who said she just passed by the house and they both left – it's all over!”
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“I got a call from my insurance agent who said he can't even get off the road and no one is allowed on PCH,” he continued. “I haven't been in my house for two days. I don't know what's going on. This is something that is very stressful for me and I'm just trying to calm down, but I feel so lost. I can't see my house, I don't know if my friends and family or my home is standing.”
“I'm completely worried, I'm completely sad and I feel incredibly stressed, but the most important thing is that everyone is OK,” he added. “I pray for our homes, our memories, and our community. My heart aches for the neighbors I know who have lost their homes. Thank you to everyone who is reaching out. I don't know.”
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Lee has faced his share of hardships throughout the years. (Getty Images)
According to People magazine, Lee purchased the Malibu home in November 2019, shortly after her split from Cuomo.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Lee's rep for comment.
Before he left his home, Lee had faced difficulties.
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The “Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee” star was diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), in 2015. She underwent a double mastectomy and later a total hysterectomy.
Four years later, she faced another battle when she broke up with Cuomo after 14 years. They were never married.
Sandra Lee and Andrew Cuomo dated for 14 years before splitting in 2019. (Getty Images)
Last year, Lee opened up when he knew his relationship was over.
“I was in my kitchen, and he said something. And the minute he said it, I knew what he had just said. And all the windows and doors were closed. And that was it,” Lee explained to Us Weekly.
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However, Lee declined to share details of the comments made in the spring of 2019.
“You know what it is. I know what it is,” he said.
During their separation, Lee and Cuomo they were spending less time together and had “separate” lives.
Lee did not share many details about her breakup with Cuomo, instead choosing to keep the information private.
“If you're living separate lives, you're not creating a life together,” she told the outlet.
Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. (Getty Images)
In June 2023, Lee announced the deaths of his aunt Peggy and uncle Bill, who had been parental figures to him since his youth.
“These are very painful things [sic] I will write sometime. My wonderful Uncle Bill has passed away. He was a Father to Me, My Only True Father,” Lee wrote on Instagram at the time, alongside a carousel of photos of his uncle.
Lee said he lived with his uncle and aunt “always” when he was young, and as he got older, his relationship with them grew stronger.
“My uncle was my mentor, my protector, my motivator, my confidant, my best friend,” he continued. “He smiled when I was cute, but when I was naughty, he burst out laughing. I was always me, all the flaws and imperfections – he loved it.”
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One day later, Lee shared that his aunt died five months before his uncle.
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“How far they both went,” Lee wrote on Instagram at the time. “One day he was here, the next day he was gone.”
Through all his trials and tribulations, Lee said the past decade has made him “smarter and stronger.”
“I have put myself down to say that I will never have to deal with the pain of bereavement in the last 10 years,” Lee told Us Weekly. “The grief was endless, but I will use it to fuel and feed me and make me wiser and stronger.
“I'd say I've had the most challenging ten years of my life.”
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz and Rachel Wolf contributed to this post.
