Dwayne Johnson and Oprah Winfrey face backlash for asking fans to donate to Maui fund

Exactly. There will always be people looking for something to complain about. It’s just extra petty when people criticize actions of kindness. 😞
Yes, Patty... exactly. And I was riding along on my high horse 🎠🏇 about people thinking O and Rock have some moral responsibility/obligation to "Save Hawaii" just because they're m/billionaires... so I deleted it before I'd say too much... that's what my deleted post was about. I haven't seen many other celebs doling out $5M.
 

Colonel Macgregor and Tucker Carlson on Tik Tok is your, um, credible source?
Funny, I knew that was coming.
Most people have been 'conditioned' to attack the platform and not the information. Why? Because its hard to accept the facts and just blame the platform.
We have also been conditioned to hate TikTok. This is by design.
TikTok is the only platform that has no political bias. They allow information for/against each political party.
We are use to glossing over the facts in attacking the platform.

CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS all are Left leaning.
Fox, One America, NewsMax, etc are Right leaning.

TikTok is neither, thats why it is hated so much and the content discredited. Not for the content, but the non-political aspect of the platform.
The government can't control it, so they get people to believe thats its harmful.
So, given that, it is creditable.
Are you saying Colonel MacGregor and Tucker Carlson are not credible? Thats a different conversation.

Your focus on the platform proves it. You attack the platform and not the content.
 
Odd. When I contribute to a charitable cause I don’t put out a press release or have a spokesperson to let others know. Nor do I have a list of the organizations I have contributed to that I circulate to other people.

So where do these lists of celebrity contributions come from? Is the goal to help others or to make sure everybody knows how wonderful they are?

FWIW, I would like to see a list of paid endorsements that celebrities make, including the amounts they were paid. They can start with Crypto currencies. Then move on to makeup, shampoo and other beauty products. Then automobiles and alcoholic beverages. And don‘t forget reverse mortgages! And don't forget to include product placements in movies and TV shows as well as the swag they get at things like the award presentations.
 

These two celebs contribute to a lot of different charities, not just the Maui Fund. I wouldn't say they were being chintzy with their money.

Dwayne Johnson:

"The Fast and Furious actor also has a long list of charities he supports, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, I Have a Dream Foundation, Parkinson Society Maritime Region, Red Cross, Starlight Children's Foundation, and Until There's A Cure."
Oprah:

Charities & foundations supported

Other Oprah Winfrey Charities and Special Projects. ...​

At least Dwayne donates to charities that help everyone, not just based on their skin color and political biases.
 
Odd. When I contribute to a charitable cause I don’t put out a press release or have a spokesperson to let others know. Nor do I have a list of the organizations I have contributed to that I circulate to other people.

So where do these lists of celebrity contributions come from? Is the goal to help others or to make sure everybody knows how wonderful they are?

FWIW, I would like to see a list of paid endorsements that celebrities make, including the amounts they were paid. They can start with Crypto currencies. Then move on to makeup, shampoo and other beauty products. Then automobiles and alcoholic beverages. And don‘t forget reverse mortgages!
Its their job.
They are paid for their celebrity recognization.
You don't like them, then don't buy the products they sponsor.
Just based on that list I would never support anything for Oprah. Tied to racism and political corruption.
 
Are you saying Colonel MacGregor and Tucker Carlson are not credible? Thats a different conversation.

Your focus on the platform proves it. You attack the platform and not the content.
My focus was on that not being credible information. Credible information is records, not hearsay by talking heads on social media platforms.

As of January 2023, the estimated average SS retirement benefit is $1827.
Source: What is the average monthly benefit for a retired worker? · FAQ | SSA

The money given to refugees is a one time settlement grant, not an ongoing monthly amount.
Source: Comparing Benefits for Refugees and Senior Citizens - FactCheck.org
 
It is easy to close the gap between the rich & the [less than rich].

Quit going to the movies, stop buying their CD's , videos, give up going to their conserts , stop going to the games ... [baseball,football,soccer,basketball] etc & so on. Our society hangs on their every word .... Stop that !

This is how they become the very wealthy ..... on the backs of the working people.
 
My focus was on that not being credible information. Credible information is records, not hearsay by talking heads on social media platforms.

As of January 2023, the estimated average SS retirement benefit is $1827.
Source: What is the average monthly benefit for a retired worker? · FAQ | SSA

The money given to refugees is a one time settlement grant, not an ongoing monthly amount.
Source: Comparing Benefits for Refugees and Senior Citizens - FactCheck.org
As you post something from a Left Leaning (no records) website.
Actually, your initial response was referring to the platform, TikTok not being a credible platform.
 
An example of my 'rant' .... Our local quarterback just signed a five year contract for $275,000,000 . Who do you think really pays that salary ? It is of course the fans/ticket buyers .

So .... if you support such things ? Then you are why they are so rich .... and you not so rich .
 
Last edited:
As you post something from a Left Leaning (no records) website.
Actually, your initial response was referring to the platform, TikTok not being a credible platform.
What I said was, "Colonel Macgregor and Tucker Carlson on Tik Tok is your, um, credible source?"

You consider SSA's website to not be credible and left-leaning?

I'm done here. If you consider Tucker Carlson a credible source there's not much more to say.
 
What I said was, "Colonel Macgregor and Tucker Carlson on Tik Tok is your, um, credible source?"

You consider SSA's website to not be credible and left-leaning?

I'm done here. If you consider Tucker Carlson a credible source there's not much more to say.
Obviously, you have a political leaning to call out Tucker Carlson, which by the way you cite him, when he didn't say anything about the topic. He was the host, not the one making the claim....I agree, we are done here.
 
I don't see what the hoopla is all about ! First of all, Oprah donates to other charities as well. She just doesn't brag about it. She and her celebrity friends stepped in to help the people in New Orleans after Katrina by donating money and building homes while the government, including FEMA twiddled their thumbs and were wrapped up in red tape.

While this donation seems like a pittance, I'm sure that with the 31 charities she supports, she's donated well over a billion over the years, including $400 million to Morehouse College and funding 400 additional scholarships there. She has donated to other education institutions and started a school for African girls as well.
Oprah: Charity Work & Causes

I have a great deal of respect for Oprah and love me some Dwayne Johnson. Perhaps asking for donations from others speaks to the fact that many people do want to feel they are doing something to help. That has been proven by the number of donations that come from us regular folks after other disasters. At least they are not donating to people who are already super rich...like Warren Buffett donating millions to Bill Gates' foundation. WTH?!
 
When billion dollar companies like Walmart ask me for a donation, I ask if they will match it. Sorry, but that's just the way I go about my stuff.
Occasionally, I get a "tug a my heart strings" letter from my power company to make donations to keep the needy warm during the winter. I always wonder about the power company though. Are they doing anything to help besides asking me to pay someone else's power bill? I just don't see the power company's generosity in this. I am suspicious and assume their actual motive is just to sell more power. Maybe I'm wrong. Call me cynical.
 
I like Dwyane Johnson. I bet he'd be fun to hang out with. Oprah is a bit too gooey, but she's probably a nice person.
 
I don't see what the hoopla is all about ! First of all, Oprah donates to other charities as well. She just doesn't brag about it. She and her celebrity friends stepped in to help the people in New Orleans after Katrina by donating money and building homes while the government, including FEMA twiddled their thumbs and were wrapped up in red tape.

While this donation seems like a pittance, I'm sure that with the 31 charities she supports, she's donated well over a billion over the years, including $400 million to Morehouse College and funding 400 additional scholarships there. She has donated to other education institutions and started a school for African girls as well.
Oprah: Charity Work & Causes

I have a great deal of respect for Oprah and love me some Dwayne Johnson. Perhaps asking for donations from others speaks to the fact that many people do want to feel they are doing something to help. That has been proven by the number of donations that come from us regular folks after other disasters. At least they are not donating to people who are already super rich...like Warren Buffett donating millions to Bill Gates' foundation. WTH?!
I expressed the same opinion in my earlier post, #49. It was "explained" to me that all the charitable contributions were nothing but ways to escape paying taxes. While I agree that they do get a tax break, the fact they are doing something to help still stands.
 
The point being overlooked here is that Oprah with 163 acres and 12 houses on Maui, did not open up her houses or property to help the hundrerds left homeless. She didn't even offer her land to set up temporary shelters. Hotels and resorts opened their doors, but no wealthy and famous opened up their massive estates to house the many left with nothing. None used their resources first hand, but instead a fund, (that administrators make money from) and was set up to glorfy themselves to appear that they care.

It is easy to throw money at a problem if you have it, but difficult to share yourself, home, or land. That takes character which most wealthy and famous lack.

The other point is that big money investors are making offers to buy the land that was burned out. Plans to move in more wealthy and famous and get rid of those of native blood that have had land in their families for generations, is what is happening here.

Ask yourself, why was so much mismanagement and gross neglect by the authorties allowed to happen? Total mismanagement of invasive species and gross neglect of electrical power lines that were the reason the fires started.

Ask yourself, why were celebrity homes spared from the fires?

Attempts in the past to buy up all the land on Maui for the wealthy and entitled, has been met with resistance by those of native blood. It doesn't surprise me that the hurricane winds were blamed to make fires look like a result of the winds that were quickly blamed on climate change. A win win for the wealthy and those with political agendas seeking more control over the people, especially natives.

Here again the wealthy show their love of money and power over humanity.
 
Last edited:
Interesting in video the MANAGING group (Entertainment Industry foundation) for this fund has 23 executives making well over 6 figures
one executive close to 500K ... who knew charity pays so well LOL maybe students should look for jobs like that ........

massive fundraising and giving money to those in need ALL GOOD but Most foundations are bloated best buddies or sometimes even family members of celebrity/ athlete who opens foundation ...... the non- profit filings show who is benefiting and it is not a Maui resident getting 1200 a month for a short time i am sure.
i would not have an issue giving money but AVOID these types when someone is making half million to be CEO of a charity

the paperwork was in the tik tok video and doing a estimated math as lowest salary was 170K and highest was over 564K so by rounding to 23x 250K equals more then Oprah donated.
 
Last edited:
It sickens me to think that people can have money up in the billions range and and not give more.
How can they live with that amount of money and know they could help the people who put them where they are.
Their donations are paltry
Oprah could easily give away one billion to help others and still live her life the way she does now.
Quote
'Talk show host'
Born: 1954, United States
  • Annual: $200,000,000.00
  • Monthly: $16,666,666.67
  • Weekly: $3,846,153.85
  • Daily: $769,230.77
Sorry for the rant...don't hit me....:(:cautious:
 
Last edited:
I read an article about two ladies who took their daughters to see Taylor Swift. IIRC, they paid about $300 a ticket. They go away cheap compared to others who ended up flying to another city, renting hotel rooms (top dollar rates) and such. Ms Swift paid each truck driver who hauled her gear (about 20 I think) a bonus of $100,000 each. Somebody has to pay for that.

I don’t begrudge Ms. Swift making a lot of money. But, $300 for a mediocre seat where I need binoculars and amplified sound to appreciate the music. No Way. I will spend $10 for a glass of wine at the local wine bar, sit maybe 40 feet away from the band at most, and appreciate some great entertainment in my own community.
 


Back
Top