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Elon Musk’s hurricane gesture renews backlash against Oprah Winfrey over Maui people’s fund

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Elon Musk’s hurricane gesture renews backlash against Oprah Winfrey over Maui people’s fund

MAGA-maniac hi-tech mogul Elon Musk will charge Hurricane Helene victims nearly $400 for Starlink Internet, after initially touting the service as free for disaster-stricken communities.

People online are calling him selfish and comparing him to another tycoon, Oprah Winfrey, who is receiving repeated backlash for not using more money to help Native Hawaiians affected by the Maui wildfires in August 2023.

Elon Musk’s hurricane gesture renews backlash against Oprah Winfrey over Maui people’s fund
Many are playing the billionaire comparison game, comparing Elon Musk’s internet scandal to Oprah Winfrey launching a crowdfunding campaign for relief on Maui in 2023. (Photo by LISA O’CONNOR/AFP via Getty Images and Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Musk, whose net worth is estimated at $262 billion, had announced that his satellite internet service would be available to help with recovery efforts after the devastating hurricane. However, the details suggest a different story.

Starlink’s initial offering of free internet service has a major drawback. Although the announcement via the company’s social media platform promised a month of free internet to those affected, the fine print reveals that users will still have to cover substantial costs for the equipment needed to access the service.

“For those affected by Hurricane Helene, or looking to support response and recovery efforts in affected areas, Starlink is now free for 30 days,” read the official post on X.

However, those affected by the storm quickly discovered that the necessary equipment, normally priced at $350, is still needed, with a reduced price of $299 for disaster relief.

With additional fees for shipping and taxes, the total price to access Starlink is around $400, an expense that many hurricane victims struggling to rebuild their lives may struggle to afford, the Register reports.

That pricing strategy has drawn criticism from the billionaire behind SpaceX and Tesla, especially as communities clean up after Hurricane Milton.

Many expressed frustration at the hidden costs, seeing it as yet another example of wealthy individuals offering limited aid during disasters.

While Musk’s companies are often praised for their innovation, the decision to charge disaster victims for critical Internet access is causing backlash as people compare Musk’s actions to other billionaires like Oprah Winfrey who have faced scrutiny for not doing more to help those in need during crises. .

When someone posted, “Elon Musk is charging hurricane victims $400 for emergency internet service. In the time it took you to read this sentence, Elon Musk made $4000. Imagine being the richest man on the planet and use your wealth and resources to exploit people in need instead of helping them.”

Another went on to say, “Like Oprah asking people for donations for Maui? She could just write a check and fix almost everything. Instead she wants Americans who are already struggling to fix it.”

Others jumped at the shock of the media pundit.

“And Oprah could have helped the people of Maui, instead she gave 15 million to Kamala Harris,” tweeted another, repeating a debunked claim.

When a Musk parody account pretended to be asked by the Biden administration if it should ignore his request, someone replied: “No, if you can help it, that’s why I don’t like it Oprah (she has the means to help Maui) but asked the American people to donate).

The claim comes after protesters criticized the producer and “Loved” star for only giving Maui residents two rounds of $1,200 in October 2023, amid rumors that she gave millions to Kamala Harris’ campaign .

However, USA Today debunked this rumor, confirming that Winfrey has not contributed to the Democratic candidate’s campaign and also reported that she donated more than $25 million to the People of Maui Fund to support the crisis in the community of Hawaii, where he has 1,000 acres of land. – and suffered more than 100 deaths and $5.5 billion worth of damage.

During the fall of 2023, owner PROPI and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson faced criticism after creating The People’s Fund of Maui, a wildfire recovery fund.

The owner herself faced scrutiny from the Maui community even after she and Dwayne Johnson pledged an initial $10 million donation.

People pointed out that Winfrey owned properties on the island that were not damaged, and with her fortune estimated at $3 billion, she could have given more herself instead of asking for the public’s contribution. Critics noted the stark difference between his wealth and the small amounts most people could give.

Additionally, some locals felt that their Maui real estate investments were driving up property prices, adding to their frustrations. This situation highlighted the gap between what celebrities give and what the public expects from wealthy individuals.

As Musk’s conversation surfaced online, X users asked: “Where is the funding for Maui victims? If there is enough funding, why are Dwayne Johnson and Oprah leading a go fund me? ? 750 dollars for every laughable victim.”

Many in X have suggested that Musk has donated money to various Helene relief funds, although this is not easily verified, but what may be is his constant exchange of false statements about FEMA and the Biden administration in an effort to help Musk’s preferred presidential candidate in 2024. , Donald Trump.

He tweeted on Oct. 4: “Yes, they are literally using your tax dollars to import voters and disenfranchise you! It’s happening right before your eyes. And FEMA blew their budget transporting illegals to country instead of saving American lives. Treason.”

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