Numerous social media posts claimed the media mogul "refused" to open her private road as cars attempted to reach higher ground.

Oprah Winfrey’s rep is shutting down rumors. A spokesperson for the philanthropist, 71, denied accusations that she kept the private road that runs through her estate in Maui closed as locals tried to escape following a Hawaii tsunami warning.

"I feel like criticism of Oprah should be more than access to a road and should also focus on why she or anyone not Indigenous to Hawaii would have a road," posted @abolitionistdoc, whose Threads post garnered over 27,