Over the weekend, Oprah made headlines for reportedly being denied entry to the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku, which currently serves as an emergency shelter for survivors of the Maui Fires.
With the death toll currently at 99 people, the fires have been utterly devastating. An estimated 2,200 structures — mostly residential — have been damaged or destroyed, and 2,170 acres have burned. As many as 4,500 people have been displaced from their homes.
When Oprah showed up with a CBS News crew, the TV mogul was informed that no camera crews or journalists were allowed inside, out of respect for those seeking shelter and safety.
The 69-year-old ended up leaving the TV crew outside so she could go in and speak with the survivors. She told BBC that she found out what people needed, then shopped at Walmart and Costco so she could hand out supplies like pillows, shampoo, and diapers. Outside, she and CBS News spoke to some victims and volunteers.
The county of Maui shared a statement on Facebook, writing, "To clarify, Oprah was able to visit our shelter, and we thank her for instructing media journalists and camera crews to remain outside. We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our community’s spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster."
Since the fires began, people have called out Oprah on social media, and this situation has only deepened the debate over her controversial presence on Maui. The TV personality has been a part-time resident of the island since the early 2000s, and she owns over 2,000 acres on Maui — 870 of which were just purchased earlier this year.
On Sunday, Oprah shared a video on Instagram, where she discussed her visit to the emergency shelter and some of the people she met there. "And at some point, I will make a major donation after all of the smoke and ash have settled here and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like," she said. This only fueled the criticism she received online.
Of course, not everyone is critical of Oprah. Nonprofit organization Kāko'o Haleakalā shared clips of Oprah passing out supplies on Instagram and wrote, "Mahalo Nui @oprah for following through! She returned with cots, pillows, and toiletries for the people in the shelter in Wailuku. She even spent some time with the people there. It was very much appreciated."
And some Native Hawaiians thanked Oprah for her pledge to donate in the future:
