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Accusations have surfaced claiming that during a tsunami evacuation in Maui, a private road on Oprah Winfrey’s estate was kept closed, hindering local residents’ efforts to seek safety.
A spokesperson for Oprah Winfrey has denied these accusations, stating that they are false.
“As soon as we were made aware of the tsunami warnings, we reached out to local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was accessible. Any contrary reports are inaccurate,” the spokesperson shared in a statement with Fox News Digital.
“Local law enforcement are currently present on-site, assisting residents in groups of 50 cars at a time to guarantee everyone’s safety. The road will remain open for as long as needed.”
Following a tsunami warning, evacuations were initiated, urging individuals to move to higher ground across parts of the Hawaiian island.
Online rumors quickly spread, suggesting that residents were unable to pass through a private gated road on Winfrey’s property.
A video shared on social media depicted a man in his vehicle outside Oprah’s property with police maintaining a presence in the area.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the lifting of the evacuation order for coastal inundation zones after consulting with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.
This action was in response to a tsunami triggered by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Russia reaching Hawaii on Tuesday evening.
This incident isn’t the first time Winfrey’s extensive Maui property has come under scrutiny. Last June, two 19-year-old men were arrested on a public road that traversed Winfrey’s property, suspected of illegal hunting.
The road in question runs through Oprah Winfrey Ranch, a property that spans nearly 1,000 acres on the island.
Conservation officers apprehended the individuals for allegedly using a spotlight for hunting purposes, according to the state agency.
Oprah’s production company, Harpo, clarified that the arrests did not take place on their property, stating that they had cooperated with efforts to prevent illegal poaching in the area.
Contributions to this report were made by Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett and Stephen Sorace.
