Colin Farrell tears up while discussing homelessness in L.A. on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

During what began as an upbeat and fun interview with Colin Farrell on Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday, the actor's mood suddenly changed after he brought up the current homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. It's a problem that's not hard to miss, especially in Hollywood, where the show is taped. Farrell was talking about the difficulty of the past year in terms of the pandemic and social unrest with fill-in host Wanda Sykes, before gesturing toward the outside of the building.

“The homelessness here. It's pretty tough to see,” Farrell said, beginning to tear up. “It's pretty tough to see. I don't get it. Am I doing anything about it right now? No. I'd like to think about doing something about it. I don't understand how so many people can be on the street.”

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority said there were 66,436 people in Los Angeles County experiencing homelessness as of January 2020. But that number is expected to rise dramatically in a post-COVID world.

And this isn't the first time Farrell has put a focus on this issue, not only does he work with an organization called the Homeless World Cup Foundation, but he's been known to lend a helping hand to homeless people in the past.

Viewers on Twitter were touched by Farrell's emotion over the topic with comments like, “He's such a golden heart” and “Gives me hope for humanity.”

But while some viewers were also quick to point out how much wealth Farrell has while discussing the problem of homelessness, did not shy away from addressing his own wealth.

“I say that knowing full well how fortunate I am,” Farrell said. “I live in a nice house, I have a very safe existence. But I don't get it, I don't get it.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on ABC.

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