After Oprah Winfrey was accused on social media of refusing to open her private road on the island of Maui amid tsunami warnings to allow people access to higher ground, her team hit back.

Numerous social media posts claimed the media mogul "refused" to open her private road as cars attempted to reach higher ground.

Oprah Winfrey's representative and the president of Haleakala Ranch confirmed that a private road on Maui is owned by the ranch and not Winfrey.