In August 2023, a series of wildfires hit the island state of Hawaii. This majorly affected the island of Maui which suffered widespread damage. In order to help the people affected in Maui, Dwayne Johnson and Oprah Winfrey joined hands to set up a relief fund. Despite their noble intentions, the celebrity duo received flak for their alleged insensitivity to the situation. However, one Hollywood superstar expressed his support for Johnson amidst the wave of criticism he finds himself in.
Jason Mamoa believes what Johnson did is something really great.
Jason Mamoa greatly appreciates Dwayne Johnson’s effort to help the people of Maui
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Wildfires plagued the island of Maui and killed over 100 people. The total damage incurred as a result of these wildfires was around $5.5 billion. The National Fire Protection Association has said that these were the deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in more than 100 years.
In order to help the people affected by the wildfires, Dwayne Johnson and Oprah Winfrey got together and set up the ‘People’s Fund of Maui’. They personally contributed $5 million each to start the fund. People who lost their homes in the Maui fires were eligible to receive $1200 a month from this fund.
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According to Dwayne Johnson, thousands of the affected families have already started receiving the first round of funding. While most people deeply appreciated the efforts of Johnson and Winfrey, many were upset at the duo for asking people to donate money in spite of their massive wealth.
After receiving all this backlash, Johnson apologized to his fans, saying that this was the first time he set up a fund and that he had learned a lesson. But his Fast X co-star Jason Mamoa was quick to show his support on Instagram. Right below Johnson’s apology video, he commented. “❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️respect”.
Fans were quick to spot Aquaman’s comment and showed their love for his support to The Rock. But as help continues to pour in, how is Maui actually recuperating?
Tourism has begun to take shape in the western part of Maui
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Almost 2 months after the deadliest wildfires in US history affected Maui, there is finally some good news. Tourism is slowing returning in full force in the western region of the island.
Five hotels have already started their business as usual. And eight properties have also started taking bookings online.
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These properties are located just a few miles from the impact area. But what do you guys think about Jason Mamoa supporting Dwayne Johnson in spite of all the backlash?