Oprah Winfrey, the legendary talk show anchor, admitted she was astonished and dismayed by the public response to her earlier this month call for donations to help victims of the Maui wildfires. This is her first public statement on the subject following public criticism of her humanitarian gesture.
In an appearance with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, she expressed her disappointment at the criticism she received while lamenting the country’s current polarized state. Dolly Parton’s charity activities in 2017 to support Gatlinburg wildfire victims, according to Winfrey, inspired her to take on the cause. Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson first gave $10 million to establish the People’s Fund of Maui, but they faced outrage after pushing their social media fans on Instagram and TikTok to contribute to the cause.
Some fans voiced their displeasure, citing their own financial difficulties and urging affluent celebrities to give more of their personal wealth to relief efforts. Some followers commented on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, with some accepting their own financial restrictions and others criticizing billionaires for soliciting gifts from the less fortunate.
Some speculated that if Winfrey and Johnson donated $100 million from their vast fortune, they would still have enough. Some criticized the public tone of her request, arguing that Winfrey should have handled her appeal privately among her rich pals. One reader was perplexed as to why one of the world’s wealthiest women was begging money.
Despite the criticism leveled at her effort, Winfrey stated that she strongly believes in it. She is still devoted to the idea of the fund and is determined to see it through. She thinks it’s a great idea.
Winfrey and Johnson are not the only celebrities who have faced public backlash for their answers to the Hawaii fires; Stevie Nicks received a barrage of hateful comments for an Instagram post about her niece’s trip in light of the catastrophe.