Almost two weeks after Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson announced a relief fund for Maui wildfire survivors, Winfrey is addressing the criticism that quickly followed. Winfrey, 69, and Johnson, 52, each pledged $5 million to launch the People’s Fund of Maui, saying in a video that the money would go directly to residents affected by the devastating fires in Lahaina, the historic Maui town hit hardest by the disaster.
The appeal, however, drew backlash from some online who questioned why two enormously wealthy celebrities were asking the public to donate. Winfrey has a reported net worth of $2.8 billion, while Johnson is reportedly worth about $800 million. During an appearance Tuesday on CBS Mornings with co-author Arthur C. Brooks to discuss their book, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, Winfrey was asked about the reaction to the Maui fund — a response she said caught her off guard.
Connecting the experience to themes in her new book, Winfrey said the online criticism gave her a deeper understanding of how brutal digital attacks can feel. “Well, this is a really great point about being happier in the midst of an onslaught of being terrorized and vilified online,” she said. “I will say this. I came out of this experience with so much more compassion for young kids, because I was thinking, what if I didn’t really know who I am? It will take you out.” She added that the “online attacks, lies, conspiracy theories” shifted attention away from what mattered most: “the people of Maui.”
Winfrey said the idea for the People’s Fund of Maui grew out of conversations she had while visiting the area and speaking directly with residents about what they needed. At first, she explained, she was helping by delivering “material things,” including generators and towels. But as she listened, she said, it became clear that many survivors wanted the ability to make their own choices. Winfrey also said Gayle King’s son sent her an article about Dolly Parton’s relief effort after the 2017 wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where Parton helped raise money and distribute it directly to victims.
Parton’s effort included a benefit concert that helped raise $12.5 million, with money going straight to families who had lost homes and belongings, including monthly payments of $1,000. Winfrey said that model immediately resonated with her. “I thought, Whoa! That’s the idea. Getting the money directly into the hands of the people,” she said. Because she and Johnson have both supported charities throughout their lives, Winfrey explained, they believed starting the fund with $10 million and inviting others to contribute would be an effective way to deliver aid directly into people’s bank accounts. “I was so excited. I was so excited about it,” she said. “And then I got up the next morning, and I saw all of this vitriol, and I was, like, Whoa, what happened here?”
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‘This is what I want to say. I want to say that, in the beginning, so many people were calling, asking, Where do we give our money to? So I thought, I’m going to give people a place to give it,’ Oprah explained. ‘We’re going to create something and I still think it’s a really strong idea. Dolly Parton was right. Putting money directly in the hands of the people is a significant thing, and the model that has been created, I will say that as of today, 2,200 people have been cleared and verified, and those people are gonna get a notice from the People’s Fund of Maui and are gonna have the money put into their account,’ Oprah explained, adding the vitriol made her, ‘sad that we’re in this state in our country.’
The Maui wildfires known collectively as the ‘Hawaii Firestorm’ started in early August, primarily on the island of Maui. The fires were attributed to a combination of factors including dry conditions started by a high-pressure area to the north and Hurricane Dora to the south. The fires ravaged the historica area known as Lahaina, with 115 confirmed casualties with 66 people still missing as of Saturday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimated that 2,200 buildings were destroyed in Lahaina, many of which were residential buildings and many others quite historic in nature. The United States Department of Commerce estimated the damage caused by the fires to be upwards of $5.5 billion.
A Maui County update published on Sunday revealed the Lahaina fire is now 100% contained, with 2,170 acres burned. The update also revealed that the Olinda fire was 90% contained, spanning an estimated 1,081 acres.
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