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Oprah Conspiracy Theory Takes Off After Maui Wildfire Response Backlash
Newsweek ^ | 8/17/23 | Sophie Lloyd

Posted on 08/24/2023 10:14:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway

An unsubstantiated online conspiracy theory is blaming Oprah Winfrey for the devastating wildfires in Maui, where the TV host owns a property.

Wildfires began sweeping through the Hawaiian island last week, fueled by Hurricane Dora. The number of fatalities stands at 111 so far, with over 1,000 people still missing.

West Maui in particular was ravaged by blazes, including the seaside town of Lahaina, an hour away from where the 69-year-old Winfrey owns a ranch.

The media mogul was spotted supporting survivors at an emergency shelter at Wailuku's War Memorial Complex, where a CBS News crew filmed her handing out supplies. However, she was slammed for attempting to bring cameras inside the evacuation center. The CBS news crew was denied entry by staff members, but Winfrey later returned alone to help out.

Oprah Winfrey is seen in January 2023. The media mogul currently owns more than 2,000 acres of property in Maui.

The incident led to swift backlash online, with one social media user seeming to accuse the star of sparking the wildfires near her property in a bid to purchase land for herself. The former talk show host currently owns 2,000 acres of land on Maui, including 897 acres of agricultural land purchased earlier this year for $6.6 million.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: lahaina; maui; oprah; oprahwinfrey; wildfires
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1 posted on 08/24/2023 10:14:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I’m not an Oprah fan, but I seriously doubt she would do something like this. This is unsubstantiated speculation passing for journalism. This is the kind of crap that gives journalism its bad name.


2 posted on 08/24/2023 10:18:31 AM PDT by econjack
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To: nickcarraway

Oprah’s property is near Hana where it rains every single day. Lahaina is on the leeward side of the island where rain is rare even during the rainy season.


3 posted on 08/24/2023 10:18:39 AM PDT by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: nickcarraway

Oprah did it. She was directing the DEW targeting also.


4 posted on 08/24/2023 10:18:47 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Sufferings are the guardrails on the road to Heaven.)
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To: nickcarraway

6.6 million dollars for 897 acres in Hawaii? That’s $7,357 per acre.


5 posted on 08/24/2023 10:20:35 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: nickcarraway

Okra and Suckerburg ready to buy up more land and help the little brown island people


6 posted on 08/24/2023 10:20:59 AM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: nickcarraway

I don’t feel sorry for her at all that this conspiracy theory is going around. It may actually be true.

Let’s just wait a year or so and see what kind of property transactions take place involving her.


7 posted on 08/24/2023 10:21:32 AM PDT by CheshireTheCat ("Forgetting pain is convenient.Remembering it agonizing.But recovering truth is worth the suffering")
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To: subterfuge

Property on the Hawaiian islands varies greatly in price depending on where it is and how close you are to the water.

On the Big Island you can actually buy pretty cheap houses south of Hilo. The problem is you are buying down hill from an active volcano. So, some properties are 10% of what the same thing would be in another location.

I suspect the land that Oprah bought is up in elevation near or part of the big cattle ranch on Maui. There are no roads or utilities up there. So, it is probably range land.


8 posted on 08/24/2023 10:40:49 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: nickcarraway

It’s not a conspiracy theory if it’s happened
before. Cali fire part two.


9 posted on 08/24/2023 10:46:58 AM PDT by everlast
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To: econjack
This is the kind of crap that gives journalism its bad name.

Actually, "journalists" do a pretty good job of that themselves.

10 posted on 08/24/2023 10:47:37 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, The Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)
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To: nickcarraway

silly


11 posted on 08/24/2023 10:55:31 AM PDT by ronniesgal (The bidens are actually more white trashy than the Clintons, and that's sayin' something)
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To: nickcarraway

“You get $700, you get $700, everybody gets $700!”


12 posted on 08/24/2023 10:55:34 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Faux News: "We distort, you deride")
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To: nickcarraway
Far more likely that transients caused the fire.

Check out the pre-fire details about the homeless problem on Maui:

https://www.mauinews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/08/there-s-a-homeless-problem-in-lahaina/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/09/21/maui-clean-up-crews-clear-out-large-homeless-encampment-kahului/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/10/27/residents-worry-about-safety-hygiene-homeless-encampment-grows-mauis-north-shore/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/06/06/mpd-brings-services-growing-west-maui-homeless-camp/

https://www.lahainanews.com/news/local-news/2022/12/02/ka-hale-a-ke-ola-receives-5-million-grant/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaI_lJwU7Zk

13 posted on 08/24/2023 11:14:27 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: ronniesgal

Why? If the media can float the conspiracy that DJT is a Russian operative, then surely The Oprah can be an arsonist.


14 posted on 08/24/2023 11:17:20 AM PDT by CodeJockey
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To: NWFree

15 posted on 08/24/2023 11:29:22 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: nickcarraway

16 posted on 08/24/2023 11:33:42 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: nickcarraway

I thought the “Oprah conspiracy” was nuts, but if Newsweek says it is false I may have to rethink my view.

;-)


17 posted on 08/24/2023 11:35:35 AM PDT by cgbg ("Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training." Anna Freud.)
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To: nickcarraway

Newsweek, wow, talk about hitting bottom.


18 posted on 08/24/2023 11:37:32 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: woodbutcher1963

Interesting, thanks.


19 posted on 08/24/2023 11:58:46 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: CodeJockey

i just don’t think this is a thing.
Oprah is in hot water with the wokes......they think she should give the land back that she “stole”.


20 posted on 08/24/2023 12:16:32 PM PDT by ronniesgal (The bidens are actually more white trashy than the Clintons, and that's sayin' something)
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