(Urban)–Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as “The Rock,” has openly acknowledged the criticism he faced following his joint appeal with Oprah Winfrey to the public to contribute to a Maui wildfire recovery fund last month.
In a video posted on his Instagram page this Sunday, Johnson commented on the initial backlash, stating, “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.”
Furthermore, Johnson empathized with the financial struggles faced by many, saying, “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 are living paycheck to paycheck. I get it, and I know what that’s like.”
He also addressed the sentiment of those living paycheck to paycheck when asked for donations, particularly by someone with substantial wealth, remarking, “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.”
In August, Johnson and Winfrey jointly announced the creation of the People’s Fund of Maui through videos posted on their Instagram pages. They disclosed their personal contributions of $5 million each to kickstart the campaign.
Reflecting on the feedback he received, Johnson expressed his appreciation for the transparency of social media in facilitating the absorption of input from his followers. He acknowledged that he had never previously initiated such a fund but stated, “I’m a quick study and lesson learned.”
The fund, as initially outlined by Winfrey and Johnson, was intended to provide $1,200 per month to individuals who had lost their primary homes in the Lahaina and Kula fires.
In his recent Instagram video, Johnson also revealed that “thousands and thousands of survivors” have begun to receive the initial round of funding.
CNN had previously reported that over 100 individuals lost their lives in the rapid-moving wildfires that swept through the island of Maui. According to the National Fire Protection Association, these wildfires rank as the deadliest in the United States in more than a century.
