Stevie Nicks defended after her ‘self-centered’ Maui wildfire post
Stevie Nicks is saying “Oh Well” to her haters.
The Fleetwood Mac singer is being defended by several die-hard fans after being slammed on Sunday for a “privileged” Instagram post concerning the ongoing Maui wildfires.
The Post reached out to Nicks for comment.
The “Leather and Lace” singer made the post shortly after it was revealed that the fire had claimed the lives of 96 people.
“As I am sure you have heard – the island, Maui, where I own a house I have been staying at since the 80s – and the small village, city, most magical place on earth, Lahaina, burned to the ground over the last few days,” read the post.
“And to make the situation worse my young niece, her husband, and their little boy had just arrived for a very needed vacation before she started up her school year (on her way to becoming a psychologist) for 10 days,” continued the singer’s post. “They had one and a half days of fun and then — the fire started.”
The post revealed that around 5 a.m. the house suffered a power outage that lasted until noon and that Nicks, 75, had no way to get in contact with her niece, Jessi.
“There was no way to know that this amazing town that had survived so much for so long would burn down and disappear into the history books, leaving so much sadness, destruction, and death behind it in its wake,” lamented the singer. “This island, in so many ways, defines Fleetwood Mac and me and our families.”
“My truth was that I wanted a house here just so I could spend time in Lahaina walking the streets; visiting the art galleries – sitting on the rock wall – Most all the opals I wear on my fingers came from a store on Front Street,” the songstress reminisced. “I hope the sweet lady who owned that store was able to grab all her opals and run. I hope she made it out.”
Since being posted, several people have called out the singer’s response to the situation as tone-deaf.
“I really like you Stevie, but this is coming off as so self-centered,” slammed one user. “As a person with money and influence you could direct people to resources for native Hawaiians’ aid, but instead you focused on your family’s vacation, which is a huge privilege.”
“Oh Stevie, love you but Native Hawaiians lost their homes for generations to come,” stated a second person. “Your niece, at best, vacation was ruined, this is not what you should’ve posted.”
Other fans defended the singer, claiming she is using her platform to grieve for the incinerated town.
“Y’all commenting like she isn’t a 75-year-old Luddite who doesn’t even know you can donate through the internet…give her some grace,” defended one fan.
“Just because she’s famous doesn’t mean she can’t grieve for her home; it’s not being selfish,” slammed a second user. “Sounds like she was even worried for her niece, which is a normal reaction. Celebrities don’t owe people anything.”
The wildfires — which have been called the deadliest in more than 100 years — have wreaked havoc on the small island and displaced hundreds of residents from their homes.
On Wednesday, the Hawaii Tourism Authority pleaded with tourists to vacate the island.
“Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui, and non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time,” wrote the agency in a statement. “In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.”
Several celebrities including “Game of Thrones” and Honolulu native Jason Momoa have begged potential tourists to stay away.
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,” he wrote on Instagram. “DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI,” posted the “Aquaman” star on Instagram.
“Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply,” he continued, calling for donations and travelers to cancel their planned trips.
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey — who owns several properties on the island — was spotted handing out supplies and speaking with residents at the War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, which has been converted into a shelter for those displaced by the flames.
