Dwayne Johnson Responds to Criticism Following Maui Wildfire Fund Appeal

Dwayne Johnson is addressing the criticism he faced following his joint appeal with Oprah Winfrey for donations to a Maui wildfire recovery fund last month.

Acknowledging the initial backlash, Johnson posted a video on his Instagram page on Sunday, saying, “I get it, and I completely understand, and I could’ve been better. And next time I will be better.”

Johnson empathized with those struggling financially, stating, “Money ain’t falling out of the sky, and it’s not growing on trees, and there’s a lot of people out there who’s living paycheck to paycheck. And I get it, and I know what that’s like.”

He acknowledged the discomfort of asking for money from people who are also struggling financially, especially when the person making the request is already wealthy.

Back in August, Johnson and Winfrey announced the creation of the People’s Fund of Maui through videos on their Instagram accounts, pledging $5 million each to kickstart the campaign.

Johnson expressed his commitment to learning from the experience, recognizing the value of feedback from his social media followers.

The fund was intended to support those who lost their primary homes in the Lahaina and Kula wildfires, providing them with $1200 a month.

In his recent video, Johnson shared that the first round of funding has reached “thousands and thousands of survivors.”

The wildfires on Maui resulted in over 100 fatalities, marking the deadliest wildfire event in the US in over a century, according to the National Fire Protection Association.