Oprah Winfrey is responding to a widespread rumor on social media, alleging that the former talk show host blocked road access amid evacuation alerts in Hawaii. For context, Hawaii was hit with an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia, sparking fears of a tsunami. The news pushed residents to find safety amid blocked roads, grounded flights, and evacuated homes. But in one viral social media post, a man claimed he and other locals were not allowed to pass through Oprah’s private road. The post quickly sparked public outrage.
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Oprah Winfrey Denies Widespread Social Media Rumor
Since the post went viral, the 71-year-old has denied that she prevented access to her road on her Maui estate during emergency tsunami evacuations. The allegation was that Oprah had locked a gate on her property, which forced residents to seek other routes as panic spread. Oprah’s road was one of the few that locals were directed to use. One viral video reshared on X showed a man allegedly at Oprah’s gate, demanding that locals be let through. This sparked social media users to slam the billionaire, alleging she prioritized privacy over safety.
But Oprah Winfrey’s team quickly responded to the story. “As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
“Any reports otherwise are 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.”
The Maui Police Department has since confirmed that Oprah’s gate is, in fact, open, writing in a statement, “Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry,” per the New York Post. Officials did not disclose whether the gate was open at the time when complaints were being made about road access blockage.
Oprah’s road is the blue line: pic.twitter.com/5RhSdhJEvP
— desertatomic (@desertatomic) July 30, 2025
Social Media Reacts To Viral Video
Prior to Oprah’s rep releasing a statement, debunking claims that her road had been blocked, social media was sounding all the way off! Peep what some of them had to say…
@Mabouyadesmers wrote, “Why is she even allowed to own an entire road ?! Insane!”
@stringfelllowfr4 wrote, “I think it has finally been opened..should have been right away!!! Who gets to close a road during an emergency????”
@KImYooSok wrote, “Look, they just want to drive through to get to safety. How is that so hard to understand? Oprah Winfrey probably isn’t even home.”
@Atongo4gh wrote, “It is reported that she has opened it. But still, the thought of not opening it is wickedness.”
@WeckbaughR wrote, “Private citizens should not be allowed to buy up large portions of states’ infrastructure and then restrict its usage.”
@JLSanchez wrote, “She raised money for the needy in TV multiple times. This is how she couldn’t care less about the people in Hawaii.”
@fupoa2021 wrote, “Why hasn’t the government established a tsunami route for evacuation? They have to know ppl have no way out.”
More On Hawaii’s Recent Tsunami Scare
On July 29, a tsunami warning was announced in Hawaii after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Tens of thousands of residents and tourists in coastal areas like Honolulu and Maui had to be rushed to higher ground. This prompted roads to get blocked and flights to be canceled as waves up to 5.7 feet hit.
Fortunately, by around 10:45 pm, the alert was downgraded, and evacuations were officially lifted Wednesday morning. No major damage occurred, but officials warned of dangerous currents in the coming days. Furthermore, Governor Josh Green urged folks to stay clear of beaches while issuing an update on the situation.
“When the water pulls back like that, that means there’s activity in the ocean. So again, keep our fingers crossed that we don’t suffer a big tsunami,” he said during a conference, per Maui Now. “Again, people have been very thoughtful and very safe, and that’s something we appreciate.”
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency confirmed it’s safe to return home but stressed vigilance for possible alerts.
Not Oprah Winfrey’s First Controversy In Hawaii
Oprah faced similar criticism in August 2023, when she and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson launched a fundraising campaign for Maui wildfire victims. Their People’s Fund of Maui, which urged public donations, sparked outrage among those who believed Oprah’s estimated $3 billion fortune should have covered the costs. Furthermore, folks on social media argued she shouldn’t have asked regular people to chip in while owning extensive island property.
But the fund was swiftly defended not just by her team but by Oprah herself. During an appearance on ‘CBS Mornings’ in September 2023, she addressed the backlash, saying she’d been “vilified” online.
“I was so excited, and I got up the next morning and I saw all of this vitriol, and I was like, woah, what happened here?” She added, “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.”
Despite the clarification, however, many continued to call her actions tone-deaf, fueling ongoing debate.
@cbsmornings Oprah Winfrey responds to online criticism about the creation of the People’s Fund of Maui: “Attacks, lies, conspiracy theories really took the focus off of what was the most important thing and that was the people of Maui.” #news #oprah #maui
