Oprah Winfrey Claps Back After Being Accused of Denying Maui Residents a Path to Escape Tsunami Warning

Residents of Maui were desperately trying to get to safety this week after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s east coast on July 29 led to tsunami warnings across Japan and the Pacific Coast of the United States. But some online are accusing actress and media mogul Oprah Winfrey of trying to make their trip to higher ground more difficult, cutting off a vital escape route which just so happens to run through land she owns.

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The billionaire businesswoman’s impressive real estate portfolio includes a $100 million Maui estate, which includes a private road that connects a coastal area in the southwestern part of the island to higher ground.

As folks tried to heed evacuation warnings, things got even more complicated when several posts popped up on social media claiming Winfrey was forcing Maui residents to take a longer, traffic-logged route out of the endangered parts of the island, denying access to the road on her property, even after residents “begged” her to open it.

But according to Winfrey, all of the outrage is unnecessary. Her team issued a statement denying claims that the road was intentionally kept closed to evacuees.

“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false,” it read.

Winfrey spokesperson Nicole Nichols added in a statement to The New York Times that they were working with local authorities to make sure everyone has a clear path to safety.

“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,” she said.

According to Deadline, the Maui police supported the statements from Winfrey’s camp announcing to residents that “Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry.”

Thankfully, the island sustained little damage, and Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency cancelled the state’s tsunami advisory on July 30, issuing an all clear post on X.