Millionaire Dwayne Johnson Acknowledges Tone Deaf Appeal For Maui Wildfire Donations

Dwayne Johnson is addressing criticism directed at him after asking people to donate to the Maui wildfire recovery fund.

Last month, Johnson, along with Oprah Winfrey, launched the People’s Fund for Maui, where the two asked for the public to help donate. Both Winfrey and Johnson said they would donate $10 million in total.

Johnson posted an Instagram update addressing the backlash. 

“When we first launched the fund, there was some backlash that came with launching the fund, and I want to address that backlash. I get it, and I completely understand, and I could have been better. And next time, I will be better,” he said.

“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,” Johnson continued. “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.”

Johnson also praised social media for helping him and his fans keep it real with him. He also said that many of the survivors are starting to receive their money. 

In the video that received criticism, Winfrey and Johnson said that adults who lost their homes in the Lahaina and Kula fires were eligible to receive $1,200 a month. They wanted to give money to the residents directly so each family could individually create their own recovery journey.