Since the deadly fires in Maui broke out last week, exacerbated by a dry summer season and driven by hurricane-force winds, a number of conspiracy theories have been floated as to the root cause of the devastation.
One such theory tied television super host Oprah Winfrey to the deadly blaze even as she has visited shelters, donated her money and time over the last week and promised to continue to do so.
Winfrey, as some have pointed out, has personal ties to Maui — she owns some 2,000 acres on the island and resides there part time — and has promised a large donation “once all the smoke and ash has settled and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like.”
Oprah Winfrey, who owns 2,000 acres of land on Maui and lives there part time, says she is going to make a major donation towards recovery efforts “once all the smoke and ash has settled and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like.” pic.twitter.com/5tqoSh41xL
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 14, 2023
But Matt Wallace noted that although Winfrey’s land was threatened, it was not burned — and he saw a parallel to the 2017 Montecito fire that forced the veteran TV host to evacuate but ultimately left her property unscathed.
“IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SHE HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 100 ACRES OF LAND IN MAUI TO OVER 1000 ACRES!” Wallace claimed. “Then All of A Sudden Out of Nowhere A Fire Comes And Destroys Many Homes Near Her But Her Land Remains Untouched! SOUND FAMILIAR?!?!?!”
⚠️ Oprah Winfrey Has Been Buying Up Land in Maui Like Crazy ⚠️
🚨 520-acre plot for $3.89 million (2023)
🚨 330 acres for $2.47 million (2023)
🚨 Two 10-acre swaths of land for $100,000 each (2022)
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SHE HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 100 ACRES OF LAND IN MAUI TO… pic.twitter.com/a6kIrnJWh0
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) August 14, 2023
He alleged that basically the same thing had happened in 2017, saying that Winfrey had continued to buy up land after the fires and mudslides damaged properties near hers.
As for the means by which the fires were started, a direct energy weapon (DEW) — commonly referred to as a “space laser” — was the most common suggestion among conspiracy theorists.
Maui wildfires spark conspiracy theories about space-lasers, Oprah land grabs, and suspicious trees https://t.co/ikhuskmH8z pic.twitter.com/qTaFBaexjg
— New York Post (@nypost) August 16, 2023
“This was a direct energy weapon assault on the people. And I say that because my friend in Hawaii showed a laser beam coming out of the sky directly targeting the city,” one person claimed.
TV host Ben Hansen criticized the conspiracy theories, saying, “It’s a shame that some people feel the need to hoax or participate in what I call ‘fraudulent reattribution’ by linking old media to recent events (i.e. the Maui fires being caused by space lasers). It’s deceitful & distracting to the story of real families mourning their loss.”
It's a shame that some people feel the need to hoax or participate in what I call "fraudulent reattribution" by linking old media to recent events (i.e. the Maui fires being caused by space lasers). It's deceitful & distracting to the story of real families mourning their loss.
— Ben Hansen (@BenHansen00) August 16, 2023
“The Maui fire is tragic. Thus far the leading hypothesis on social media as to the cause of the fire is a space-based laser weapon from China or Oprah. God help us all,” Dan Collins added.
The Maui fire is tragic. Thus far the leading hypothesis on social media as to the cause of the fire is a space-based laser weapon from China or Oprah. God help us all. pic.twitter.com/V1vZwvieyM
— Dan Collins (@DanCollins2011) August 14, 2023
The wildfires in Maui devastated the historic city of Lahaina and claimed over 100 lives. The death toll is expected to rise as hundreds are still missing. President Joe Biden, after a bumpy few days during which he claimed to have “no comment” on the rising death toll, has promised that the federal government will offer every possible assistance Maui might need.
“Every asset they need will be there for them,” Biden said. “And we’ll be there in Maui as long as it takes.”
Thus far, experts believe downed power lines started at least one of the fires — which then raged out of control after hurricane-force winds sent sparks flying.