Oprah Winfrey denies claim she kept private Hawaii road closed during tsunami evacuation
'As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened,' Winfrey's camp claimed on Wednesday, via Deadline.
'Any reports otherwise are false,' the statement continued, noting that 'local law enforcement are currently on site helping residents through 50 cars at a time to ensure everyone's safety.'
Winfrey's spokesperson concluded, 'The road will remain open as long as necessary.'
The Maui Police Department confirmed this as well, writing in an advisory that the 71-year-old's 'road is open to get Upcountry.'
The Emmy winner, who also has homes in Montecito, California, and Telluride, Colorado, began acquiring land for her $US60 million estate in Maui in 2002.
The property features a private road that connects the Wailea coastal area to the Kula uplands.
Tsunami alerts were sent on Tuesday afternoon following a .
Parts of the California coast and Japan were also given warnings.
After waves ranging from four to five feet were documented in Oahu, Kahului and Hilo, Hawaii's tsunami threat was downgraded Tuesday evening to an advisory.
Those who evacuated were given the green light to return home.
In August 2023, the state was ravaged by wildfires.
Winfrey, whose home was not affected at the time, donated a combined $US10 million with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to the cause — and was surprised by the online backlash they received over asking social media users to pitch in as well.
'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?'' she told CBS Mornings viewers the following month.
The Oscar nominee, who has a net worth of more than $US2.8 billion, added, 'It made me sad that we are at this state in our country.'
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