Oprah responds to claims about keeping private road closed during Hawaii tsunami evacuation

Tsunami waves hit Hawaii after a massive 8.8 earthquake near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting widespread evacuations. As people rushed to higher ground, claims surfaced online that Oprah Winfrey had refused to open her private road on Maui to assist evacuees, sparking public outrage.

Social media users criticized Oprah for allegedly keeping her gate closed while people were trapped in gridlocked traffic. A viral video on X showed a long line of cars, with one man accusing Oprah of not helping residents escape the danger.

The road in question, Thompson Road, runs through Oprah’s property but is technically a public road, according to Hawaii News Now and NBC News. Nonetheless, misinformation about its closure quickly spread online.

Anger grew, with posts demanding Oprah open her road. Some users described the route as potentially life-saving and accused her of blocking it during a critical moment.

Shortly after the backlash, Oprah’s road was confirmed open. A community note on the viral video cited Maui Police, stating that the road was accessible and being used by evacuees.

Newsweek reported that the Maui Police Department’s official tsunami update included Oprah’s road as an open route to reach higher ground. Other roads were also heavily congested, further emphasizing the road’s importance.

Oprah’s spokesperson responded, denying the road was ever closed. They stated that coordination with FEMA and law enforcement ensured the road was open from the start and that officers were assisting vehicles through safely.