Dwayne Johnson breaks silence on Maui fund backlash after asking fans to donate

Dwayne Johnson has addressed a backlash against him and Oprah Winfrey after the pair requested people donate to a Wildfire Recovery Fund they had set up to support Maui.

The Rock and Winfrey set up the fund to support people who had lost their primary home in the wildfires which engulfed Maui in August 2023.

The Black Adam star wrote in the video's caption: "As @Oprah and I have seen firsthand, the impacts of these wildfires have been devastating, and we’re here to ensure with 100 percent guarantee that your donations will go directly into the hands of Lahaina residents.

"Every adult resident who lives in the affected area and was displaced by the wildfires in Lahaina and Kula is eligible to receive $1,200 per month to help them through this period of recovery."

However, critics hit out at Johnson and Winfrey for the request, pointing out that Winfrey is a billionaire and Johnson is worth around $800 million.

They argued that it was 'pathetic' for them to call on people less well off to donate given their enormous personal wealth.

Now, the actor has responded to the criticism in a post to his Instagram page, promising that 'next time I will be better.'

Instagram / therock

In the video, he said: “When we first launched the fund, there was some backlash.

“I get it and I completely understand, and I could’ve been better. And next time I will be better.”

The former WWE star went on to say: “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 added: “The last thing you want to hear when you are living from paycheck to paycheck is someone asking you for money, especially when the person asking you for money already has a lot of money.

“I get it, I understand. I’ve never launched a fund before, but I’m a quick study and lesson learned.”

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Johnson also added that he appreciates the transparency that social media provides with respect to listening to feedback from his followers.

"We keep it real." he said. "If I do something and you guys love it, you let me know. 'Rock we love it, let's roll'.

"If I do something and you hate it, you let me know 'Rock, we hate it. Don't even do that s**t again."

He also revealed that 'thousands and thousands' of survivors would be receiving their first round of payment from fund.

The wildfires swept through the island of Maui in August, spreading extremely quickly and killing more than 100 people as they engulfed the island in flame.

Thousands more were displaced after they lost their homes in the blaze.

The wildfires were the deadliest in the US in more than 100 years, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Oprah also responded to the backlash they'd received, saying that she was 'shocked' by the criticism.