Oprah Winfrey Reacts To Criticism Over Maui Wildfire Support Fund: 'What Happened Here?'

Oprah is opening up for first time about the backlash to the support fund she and Dwayne Johnson launched in support of the victims from the recent Maui wildfires.

The two teamed up late last month, each pitching in $5 million each to get the fund started, that would directly support the residents of Lahaina and surrounding areas who had lost their homes to the wildfires.

However, Oprah revealed that she wasn’t expecting the backlash to the fund that came after.

Keep reading to find out more…

During an interview on CBS Mornings, Oprah revealed that she was inspired by Dolly Parton, who organized her own support fund to aid victims from the 2017 Gatlinburg, Tennessee, wildfires.

For that, Dolly had thrown a concert, and all proceeds were going to given directly to the families who had lost a significant amount of their homes and belongings. Many of them received $1,000 from Dolly herself.

“That’s the idea,” Oprah said. “Getting the money into the hands directly into the hands of the people set up the end structure for that.”

However, she was not prepared for the backlash.

“I was so excited,” she added. “I was so excited about it, and then I got up the next morning, and I saw all of this vitriol, and I was, like, ‘Whoa, what happened here?’”

Many social media users called out both Oprah and Dwayne for asking other residents to donate their own money while they were also financially struggling.

Oprah is still standing behind the fund, saying that Dolly‘s initial idea combined with “so many people were calling asking where do we give our money” that the fund was launched.

“We’re going to create something and I still think it’s a really strong idea.”

Watch the full interview below: