For the second time in recent years, Oprah Winfrey has been at the center of controversy for how she allegedly reacted to Hawaii-related catastrophes. We all remember the People’s Fund of Maui uproar in 2023, and now, Oprah has found herself amid another Hawaii issue.
As many know, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia’s Far East this morning, sending tsunami waves into Hawaii. While many are working to send supplies and help people get to safety, there was a hitch.
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Rumors quickly circulated online that Hawaiian residents were allegedly unable to pass through a private, gated road on Oprah’s property, with many being completely angry over the allegations.
The anger intensified when others alleged that she had opened her private road in Maui, Hawaii, only after the backlash. However, her reps are saying something completely different.
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened,” Oprah’s rep told People. “Any other reports are otherwise false. Local law enforcement are currently on site helping residents through 50 cars at a time to ensure everyone’s safety. The road will remain open as long as necessary.”
Oprah Winfrey at “The Six Triple Eight” Los Angeles Premiere at The Egyptian Theater on December 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
As we said, this marks the second time she’s been at the center of a Hawaii controversy. Back in 2023, she and Dwyane Johnson started the People’s Fund of Maui, which was a fund intended to give money to those displaced by the wildfires in Lahaina and Kula in Maui, Hawaii. However, it immediately received pushback, with many calling them out for not donating money themselves, especially since Oprah is a billionaire.
Oprah later discussed the backlash in an interview on CBS Mornings, saying she felt she had been “terrorized” and “vilified online.”
She said, “So all of the online… attacks, lies, conspiracy theories, really took the focus off of what was the most important thing, and that was the people of Maui.”
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