Tsunami Warning Sparks Backlash Against Oprah Over Private Road Access in Maui
After a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia on July 30, tsunami warnings were issued for several regions, including Hawaii. Authorities urged residents to avoid coastal areas and move to higher ground as a safety measure.
As updates flooded social media, one post quickly gained traction—amassing over 2.7 million views—accusing Oprah Winfrey of keeping a private road on her Maui estate closed during the evacuation.
The viral post read: “People in Maui, Hawaii are trying to escape the tsunami and are begging Oprah to open the private road on her property. She’s reportedly still refusing. In a crisis, blocking an escape route is inhumane.” A traffic map and video showing gridlock in the area accompanied the post.
Others on social media echoed these concerns, arguing that opening the road could have reduced congestion and allowed for faster access to higher ground.
An update later shared by the same account stated that, “after public pressure and intervention from President Trump, Oprah has opened her private road to support emergency access.” The user also noted that members of Oprah’s team had begun publicly addressing the controversy.
