It’s being reported that Oprah Winfrey and her camera crew were turned away from shelters in Maui over the weekend due to a no-media policy inside.
It was said that the TV personality, who has spent recent days helping with aid efforts during a visit to the state, was accompanied by a CBS News crew but was denied entry to the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku. Of course, those headlines sparked a conversation online with some people slamming her. One Twitter user said, “Jesus Christ. She can’t just go & help out, she has to do it for her own glory? #Oprah.” Another said, “Why did she need a camera crew??? Looks like it’s for her own publicity. Terrible if it’s true. “Trying to gain from people’s horror!” A third said, Of course. She was only doing it for the cameras. Vicious and vile.”
Although Winfrey, hasn’t addressed these reports head-on, Maui Officials are clarifying these reports about the famous television host who lives on the Hawaiian island part-time. A statement shared on Facebook from the County of Maui read, “To clarify, Oprah was able to visit our shelter and we thank her for instructing media journalists and camera crews to remain outside,” reads a statement shared on Facebook from the County of Maui. “We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our community’s spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster.”
The statement continued, “Her visit inside of the shelter today was truly heartwarming and we appreciate her understanding of our policy of having no camera crews or reporters accompanying dignitaries and celebrities in our emergency shelters. Mahalo.”
Oprah, who helped out on and off-camera plenty of times in the past when a major disaster happens — has recently made multiple trips to comfort those impacted by the raging fires that have killed nearly 100 people and destroyed or damaged over 2,000 structures.
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On Sunday, the former talk show host, 69, promised she will make a “major donation” to residents and areas affected by the deadly fires. She said in a new Instagram video post,
“You know what this week has taught me is that when you don’t know what to do…you do whatever you can,” Winfrey said. “I went to visit one of the big shelters here at the War Memorial [Stadium] and asked people what it is they needed and then went shopping for some things, some, you know, basic things like towels and sheets and shampoo and other necessities.”
She went on to say, “And at some point, I will make a major donation after all of the smoke and ash have settled here and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like.”
Recalling her experience visiting families who have been trying their best to stay positive and remain hopeful during an extremely difficult time, she said there “is such an incredible spirit going on in this entire community,” she added. “I know that, long after the camera crews are gone and the rest of the world has moved on, the rebuilding will just begin. And Hawaiians are a strong cultural people and a family-loving people and with the help and support, you’re going to hear a lot of Phoenix stories rising from the ashes here.”
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