As tsunami warnings swept across the Pacific following a massive earthquake near Russia, social media lit up with claims that Oprah Winfrey refused to open a private road she owns on Maui allegedly blocking locals from reaching higher ground.
One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) declared, “Oprah HAS NOT opened her private road from Wailea to Kula, Hawaii,” accusing the media mogul of keeping a crucial escape route shut. Others posted before-and-after images, claiming the road was eventually opened only after public pressure.
But Oprah’s team says that’s flat-out false.
“As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened,” her spokesperson told Deadline. “Any reports otherwise are false.”
🚨 Oprah’s road BEFORE 𝕏 vs. Oprah’s road AFTER 𝕏
We The People FORCED Oprah to open the road, allowing folks to escape the incoming Hawaii tsunami and get to higher ground
Well done holding the elites accountable! pic.twitter.com/ePLyJdsMBA
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 30, 2025
The Maui Police Department backed that up, confirming in a public advisory that “Oprah’s road is open to get Upcountry,” and that law enforcement was on-site helping residents evacuate in groups of about 50 cars at a time.
The road became a focal point after the U.S. Geological Survey recorded an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia the sixth-strongest quake ever recorded. It triggered tsunami alerts across both sides of the Pacific. In Russia, waves hit 13 feet in some areas. In Hawai‘i, waters surged up to five feet in Kahului, causing localized flooding after initially receding.
The tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory by 10:40 p.m. local time. By then, coastal areas of Japan and the U.S. West Coast including California, Oregon, and Washington had also experienced smaller tsunami waves, with no fatalities reported.
Despite online backlash, it appears Oprah’s property was made accessible in time, and the viral claims were misinformation spread during the panic.
Tsunami activity is expected to continue in the form of unpredictable tidal shifts, and officials are urging caution near coastal areas.
