Why is Oprah Winfrey under social media attack following Hawaii tsunami warning

Oprah Winfrey’s property and a private road passing through it on Hawaii’s Maui Island went viral on the social media platform X after residents in Hawaii rushed to safety following a tsunami warning. In the viral videos, people were seen alleging that Oprah Winfrey was refusing to open her gated road for people trying to escape to safety. According to Hawaii News Now, Winfrey owns a ranch in Kula, HI.

"Look at this. I think they're trying to open Oprah's road. C'mon Oprah, save us... Everybody trying to get in,. Cops trying to open it. Nope, still closed," a man said in one viral video. In the viral video, the gates of the road were visible.




"We're stuck and a tsunami is coming," the man said in the video. Some users on X slammed Winfrey online after the claims went viral. However, after time, Oprah’s private road was opened, allowing residents to reach higher and safer grounds, said an X user. After Oprah’s private road became a social media discussion, a user on X claimed that it was opened following intense public pressure.

“BREAKING: Following INTENSE public pressure, Oprah’s private road has been OPENED to those escaping the tsunami WELL DONE, EVERYONE! It should’ve been opened HOURS ago, but if you’re in Wailea on Maui and need to get to higher ground, USE OPRAH’S ROAD NOW! Haleakala Ranch Rd, Maui, HI.” user named Nick Sortor wrote.



"Thompson Road is a public road that runs through private property owned by the Oprah Winfrey Ranch," a Hawaii News Now report noted. NBC News also reported in the hunting incident that there is "a public road that runs through Winfrey’s ranch in Kula."

News 8000, however, reported in 2019 that Winfrey owns a private road. She opened it to help evacuees of the Maui fire. "Access to the road was given to county officials immediately. This was many hours ago. Hoping for the safety of all,” she wrote at the time of the Maui fire, according to News 8000.

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, sparking concern over tsunamis on the island, which was under a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service.