Dwayne Johnson responds to Maui fundraiser backlash

American actor and film producer Dwayne Johnson has spoken out after facing backlash for asking people to donate to a Maui wildfire recovery fund reported PeopleOn August 31 the actor 51 joined up with Oprah Winfrey to start the Peoples Fund for Maui with the pair contributing a combined USD 10 million However their request for public donations drew considerable criticismThe Young Rock musician who used to live in Hawaii addressed the outrage in a video uploaded on his Instagram page on SundayWhen we first launched the fund there was some backlash that came with launching the fund and I want to address that backlash he told his followers I get it and I completely understand and I could have been better And next time I will be betterHe also said he understands that money aint falling out of the sky and its not growing on trees and that many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck right nowI get it I know what its like Ive lived paycheck to paycheck he continued When you are living paycheck to paycheck the last thing you want to hear is someone asking you for money especially when the person asking you for money already has a lot of moneyAccording to People Johnson conceded that he could have handled things better and that the situation has been a learning experience for himIve never launched a fund before but Im a quick study he notedIn the caption accompanying his video he thanked his followers for giving him constructive feedbackYou always tell me the truth good or bad Ill always appreciate and protect that straight talk between us You have my word to always listen learn grow and do better he wroteBefore addressing the criticism Johnson shared a positive update regarding the fund in his videoI have some great news some awesome news actually that Im very grateful to share with you guys he said The thousands and thousands of survivors the families have now over the past couple of weeks started to receive their first round of funds Theyre receiving their money and I gotta tell you its been the most gratifying and moving thingJohnson and Winfrey 69 said in a video at the time of the funds launch that people who lost their primary homes in the Lahaina and Kula fires would be eligible for 1200 each month to assist them get back on their feetThe talk show icon shared in the video that the idea for the fund was inspired by Dolly Partons long history of philanthropy I read this article that Dolly Parton had given money in her community and I said I think this is the answer said Winfrey a parttime resident of MauiWinfrey and Johnson went on to say that they wanted the money to reach peoples hands with some real immediacy so that they could direct their own recovery journeyPeople being able to have their own agency being able to make decisions for themselves about what they need and what their family needs thats our goal is to get that to the people now Winfrey saidIn a press release announcing the fund Winfrey referenced her firsthand experience with the devastation caused by the wildfires after which she visited the area and learned from residents that financial assistance was their most pressing need according to PeopleI have been meeting with people throughout the community that were impacted by the fires over the last few weeks asking what they most needed and how I could be of service she said in a statement The main thing Ive been hearing is their concern about how to move forward under the immense financial burdenThe community has come together in so many wonderful ways and my intention is to support those impacted as they determine what rebuilding looks like for them she added reported PeopleThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever