Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson confronted backlash on Tuesday after asking fans to donate money to assist these affected by the Maui wildfires — despite having a mixed net worth of greater than $2.8 billion.
The Hollywood duo collectively kicked in $10 million to kickstart the People’s Fund of Maui, however then collectively requested their fans on Instagram and TikTok to donate the remainder.
However, many fans complained they had been already residing “paycheck-to-paycheck,” and that the uber-rich celebrities ought to dole out extra of their very own money toward aid efforts.
“I’d however I’m broke…you two received this although!” fan, Carolina Moreno, wrote within the remark part on TikTok underneath the August 31 video.
“Billionaire asking for money from the poor, what a joke,” one fan, Cary Jacobs, commented on Oprah’s follow-up video on Instagram.
“You have billions. You might donate $100 million and nonetheless be as rich as earlier than donating. YOU give the money,” Maribel Rubio criticized Winfrey, who’s estimated to be worth $2.5 billion, in accordance to Forbes.
“10 million is 0.5% of two billion, you need my 0.5%? Here comes $16 (I gave it to you post-tax),” one TikTok fan wrote.
“This must be a non-public message between you and your billionaire mates,” one other critic wrote. “It’s so outrageous that you’re pleading for money.”
Another wrote: “How is the richest lady on the planet asking for money? Make it make sense.”
One fed-up fan wrote: “Girlfriend, it could take me virtually 20 years to make the quantity of money you probably did JUST TODAY. You do it. We’re struggling over right here.”
Although the feedback faired higher on Johnson’s web page, fans had been nonetheless livid, with one writing: “Dig in these deep pockets Rock! You received this. Maui will thanks.”
Plenty criticized the small beginning fund for the 2 actors who’ve way more, with many highlighting how little $5 million was for them. Assuming they break up it evenly, $5 million would solely quantity to 0.2% of Winfrey’s gigantic stash. The quantity is almost 1.9% of Johnson’s wealth, which is estimated to be $300 million.
Neither actor has addressed the backlash.
Winfrey, 69, and Johnson, 51, had been impressed by Dolly Parton to begin the fund after texting concerning the devastation.
“We had been so involved by what was occurring that we had been texting again and forth, and I learn this text that Dolly Parton had given money in her group, and I stated: ‘I believe that is the reply,’” Winfrey stated within the video.
“That money goes to go to one among many residents who’ve been displaced in Maui.”
Adult residents of the Hawaiian island shall be eligible to obtain a $1,200 per 30 days cost to assist them “by means of this era of restoration.”
“We are honored to begin this marketing campaign with $10 million {dollars} and ask for your assist in donating to those that have misplaced their houses. We thanks upfront for your contribution,” their joint Instagram caption learn.
In a follow-up video, Winfrey introduced that 10,000 individuals have donated to the fund, however didn’t disclose how a lot has been raised.
Winfrey has additionally confronted extra backlash for having multiple properties in Hawaii. The speak present character purchased 870 extra acres of land on Maui earlier this yr, paying $6.6 million, main her to personal almost 1,000 acres on the islands.
The media mogul, who has lived part-time on the island for 15 years, owns additional property close to the Haleakala volcano.
A conspiracy theory has even been planted against Oprah, with some theorizing that she and different rich Hawaiian residents might have used lasers to set the lethal blaze alive to have the opportunity to snap up extra actual property for themselves.
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