As Hawaiians fled for safety Tuesday following a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s eastern coast, social media exploded with claims that Oprah Winfrey had initially refused to open her private road on Maui to evacuees seeking higher ground.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across all Hawaiian coasts, with waves up to 11 feet reported in Kahului on Maui. As residents scrambled to escape, several online voices accused Winfrey of blocking access to Haleakala Ranch Road, which reportedly leads uphill from the coastal community of Wailea.
Viral Accusations Spark Outrage
“Blows my mind that Oprah owns her own road in Hawaii… and refused to allow Hawaiians to use it to escape the tsunami,” wrote one user on X.
“Following INTENSE public pressure, Oprah’s private road has been OPENED… It should’ve been opened HOURS ago,” added journalist Nick Sortor.
The claim quickly gained traction online, with critics accusing the billionaire media mogul of prioritizing private property over public safety.
Oprah’s Team: “False Claims”
Winfrey’s spokesman responded swiftly, telling People magazine the allegations were false:
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we