Fans turn on Stevie Nicks over ‘tone deaf’ Hawaii post

Stevie Nicks’ lengthy post about how the devastating Maui fires have affected her has even her most devoted fans calling her out.

Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks has left fans divided with her lengthy post about the Maui fires – in which she lamented the disaster had ruined her niece’s holiday in the area.

Landslide singer Nicks, 75, posted a note to social media titled “Lahaina is not gone ~ It is just away,” revealing her personal connection to the beachside town that was razed to the ground in devastating fires that killed at least 96 people on the weekend.

“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,” she began.

Stevie Nicks has been slammed for her “disappointing” post about the fires in Maui. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty

“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. They had one and a half days of fun and then – the fire started.

Nicks went on to write about the affinity the other members of her band Fleetwood Mac felt for the island of Maui: “This island, in so many ways, defines Fleetwood Mac and me and our families,” she wrote.

“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. I hope the sweet lady who owned that store was able to grab all her opals and run. I hope she made it out.”

Nicks’ post divided her fanbase, with some criticising the singer for focusing on her niece’s holiday plans rather than the near-100 people who died in the fires. Others questioned why Nicks hadn’t included any links or information to direct her 1.4m Instagram followers to donate to the survivors of the fire.

The town of Lahaina has been all but wiped off the map. Picture: Getty

“Oh Stevie, love you but Native Hawaiians lost their homes for generations to come, your niece, at best, vacation was ruined, this is not what you should’ve posted,” wrote one fan under her Instagram post.

“I am a huge huge Stevie Nick’s music lover. and this is really disappointing. she’s so rich and so out of touch with reality. but I’m not surprised by this post Stevie has been a millionaire her whole life practically.”

“I’ve been a Stevie fan forever and a day but this is Completely tone deaf! There are people who have LOST THEIR HOMES, their livelihood and their loved ones. Regular people – not rich, and not tourists. “Ruining” someone’s well deserved holiday is the absolutely LEAST of it all. True colours are shining and it’s such a disappointment,” wrote another longtime fan.

“Lahaina burned to the ground, and to make the situation worse, my niece’s vacation was cut short? I read this several times to try and find a way to make it not sound so bad but … it sounds so bad,” said another.

Nicks, pictured here with late Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie (left), said the band had long had a love for Maui. Picture: AFP

But other fans defended Nicks, saying she was as entitled as anyone with ties to the island to share her story.

“All of these people are ripping her apart for talking about her family and her privilege. You have no idea whether she’s donated or plans to donate to rebuild the island,” argued one fan.

Nicks isn’t the only celebrity speaking up in the wake of the devastating fires: Hawaii-born action star Jason Momoa issued a stern warning to his fans, telling them that tourism was not the way to show support for those in Maui.

“Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply,” he wrote.

“Mahalo to everyone who has donated and shown aloha to the community in this time of need.”

TV mogul Oprah Winfrey, who owns a house on Maui, has been spotted helping out in a shelter on the island, handing out supplies and comforting residents.

Also in Maui: Paris Hilton, who has been slammed for continuing with a beach holiday just 50km from the epicentre of the disaster zone.

Originally published as Fans turn on Stevie Nicks over ‘tone deaf’ Hawaii post