Cardi B to pay funeral expenses for Bronx fire victims

Cardi B will pay the funeral expenses for victims of the deadly Bronx fire, the New York City Mayor's office announced Wednesday. Seventeen people, including eight children, were killed after the fire ripped through a residential apartment complex in early January. 

"I'm extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help," the rapper, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, said in a statement from the mayor's office. "I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal."

Many of the victims appeared to be immigrants from the Gambia. The statement said Almánzar has also committed to paying repatriation expenses for victims who will be buried there.