Oprah Winfrey responds to criticism over the fund she started with Dwayne Johnson to help victims of the Maui fires: ‘I saw all this vitriol’

Nearly two weeks after Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson launched their fund to help victims of the Maui wildfires, Oprah is responding to the backlash.

Both Winfrey, 69, and Johnson, 52, each pledged $5 million to get the People’s Fund of Maui started, stating in a video that the money would be distributed directly to people in need affected by the fires in the Lahaina Historic Area.

However, many were dismayed and angry that Winfrey – with a reported net worth of $2.8 billion – and Johnson – reportedly worth $800 million – are still asking for fans to pitch in, despite boosting the fund with $10 million set up.

Winfrey appeared CBS mornings on Tuesday with co-author Arthur C. Brooks to promote their book Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier.

During the wide-ranging interview, Winfrey was asked about the reaction to the fund, which surprised her.

Backlash: During the wide-ranging interview, Winfrey was asked about the backlash against the fund, which surprised her

Reflecting on one of the lessons from her new book, she added, “Well, this is a really great point about being happier in the midst of an onslaught of being terrorized and vilified on the Internet.”

“I’ll say this. I came out of this experience with so much more compassion for young children because I thought, what if I didn’t really know who I am? It will get you out.

“So all the online attacks, lies and conspiracy theories really took the focus away from what was most important, which was the people of Maui,” Oprah explained.

“So this idea came about because I was talking to a lot of people on the ground and trying to figure out how I could best help,” she said, adding that in the beginning she handed out “material things” and “delivered generators.” and towels.’

“Then I started talking to people and people really wanted their own agency,” she said, adding that Gayle King’s son sent her an article about Dolly Parton, who organized her relief fund to help victims of the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, fires to help in 2017.

She added that Parton had a concert and raised $12.5 million for the people and distributed the money among them himself, $1,000 a month.

Before that, Dolly had given a concert, and all proceeds would be given directly to the families who had lost a significant portion of their homes and possessions. Many of them received $1,000 from Dolly herself.

“I thought, ‘Wow! That’s the idea. Getting the money directly into the hands of the people created the end structure for that,'” she said.

New book: Reflecting on one of the lessons from her new book, she added: ‘Well, this is a really great point about being happier in the midst of an onslaught of being terrorized and vilified online’

Compassion: “I will say this. I came out of this experience with so much more compassion for young children because I thought, what if I didn’t really know who I am? It will get you out

Attacks: “So all the online attacks, lies and conspiracy theories really took the focus away from what was most important, which was the people of Maui,” Oprah explained.

Idea: “I thought, ‘Wow! That’s the idea. Getting the money directly into the hands of the people set up the end structure for that,'” she said

“Since we have both given to charities all our lives, we thought it would be a great idea to start the fund with $10 million. “We’ll do what Dolly did: get other people to give money and then we’ll deposit it directly into people’s bank accounts,” Oprah explained.

‘I was so excited. I was so excited about it, and when I got up the next morning, I saw all this vitriol, and I was like, ‘Wow, what happened here?'” Oprah explained.

‘This is what I want to say. I want to say that in the beginning, we had so many people calling and asking, “What do we give our money to?” So I thought, I’m going to give people a place to give it,” Oprah explained.

‘We are going to create something and I still think it is a very strong idea. Dolly Parton was right. Putting money directly into the hands of the people is something important, and according to the model that has been created, I will say that as of today, 2,200 people have been cleared and verified, and those people will receive a message from the People’s Fund. of Maui and will have the money put into their account,” Oprah explained, adding the vitriol made her, “sad that we are in this state of our country.”