Media Mogul Opens Private Road After Backlash, Raising Questions on Elite Responsibility
Oprah Winfrey faced intense backlash for delaying access to her private Maui road during a July 30, 2025, tsunami evacuation, as residents fled an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s coast.
Social media erupted with claims that Winfrey’s gated road from Wailea to Kula could have eased gridlocked highways, potentially saving lives.
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Videos showed desperate residents stuck in traffic, with one saying, “We’re stuck, and a tsunami is coming.”
The incident highlights tensions over celebrity privilege in crises, spotlighting Winfrey’s vast Maui landholdings.
Her eventual cooperation eased evacuations, but questions linger about timely action and elite accountability in disasters.
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