During a tense overnight evacuation in Hawaii following a tsunami warning, Oprah Winfrey found herself at the center of an online firestorm. Residents on social media claimed that a private road cutting through her sprawling Maui estate was closed to the public as people attempted to flee to higher ground. But by Wednesday morning, her team was pushing back hard.

In a statement released to media outlets, Winfrey’s staff categorically denied that the road had been closed at any time. “As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false,” the statement read.

To reinforce that point, the Maui Police Department also weighed in, issuing an official advisory confirming that “Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry.” That clarification appeared aimed at stemming a surge of social media outrage, which had suggested Winfrey had restricted critical access during a potential natural disaster.

The controversy erupted after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday. That massive seismic event triggered tsunami warnings for large portions of the Pacific Rim, including Hawaii, Japan, and the U.S. West Coast. As sirens blared across Maui, residents scrambled to reach higher ground—many attempting to use every possible road to escape the low-lying coastal areas.

Gridlock quickly formed as drivers crowded major arteries, and misinformation spread online claiming the private road through Oprah’s property remained shut. Within hours, those claims were amplified by users eager to lash out at wealthy landowners, especially those with exclusive property rights in an island community where access and affordability have long been contentious issues.

Winfrey, a part-time Maui resident, is hardly alone in her celebrity status on the island. High-profile figures such as Jeff Bezos, Woody Harrelson, and Owen Wilson also own properties there. But Oprah has repeatedly attracted scrutiny due to her large land holdings and perceived influence over local governance and disaster planning. This incident only added fuel to those tensions.

The controversy recalls last year’s outrage when critics slammed Oprah for installing water tanks on her land while others faced usage restrictions during a prolonged drought. That backlash also played out online, painting her as out of touch with locals who struggle with resource scarcity and emergency infrastructure limitations.

Still, in this latest case, local authorities appear to be firmly on Winfrey’s side. FEMA reportedly coordinated with her estate immediately following the tsunami alert, and officials say no intentional blockage occurred. Whether that’s enough to tamp down public criticism remains to be seen.

With Hawaii regularly under threat from tsunamis, hurricanes, and wildfires, questions about private roads, access routes, and how the wealthy coexist with vulnerable residents are unlikely to go away. Oprah’s team may have opened the gate this time—but the broader debate about privilege and public safety in paradise is far from over.