Stevie Nicks was slammed by fans online after she shared a post about the Maui fires, which her followers deemed to be ‘self-centered and ‘privileged’.
The 75-year-old Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter uploaded a picture of a typed-out message to her Instagram account in the aftermath of the natural disaster on Saturday.
Her response came after it was announced that 89 people had died in the devastating wildfires that officials believed were the deadliest disaster in the state’s entire history.
The star’s ode to the victims and location of her own house was shared with a caption that read: ‘Lahaina is not gone ~ It is just away ~ With Aloha, Stevie Nicks.’
It read: ‘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.
‘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.
‘The power went out at 5:12 am (Tuesday morning) but they had no idea why – It was still out at noon, realizing that many surrounding houses had also lost power. It was a mystery.
‘My house is 15 to 20 minutes from Lahaina – but still no one knew about the fire. We knew here in Houston, but there was no way to get Jessi (my niece) on the phone. The entire area of Lahaina and everything around it was down. But here in Houston… we knew.’
She continued explaining: ‘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.
‘This island, in so many ways, defines Fleetwood Mac and me and our families. Mick and I came here in 1978, went up to Kula to look at a huge, beautiful house and stood in front of it listening to the gentle magical wind.
‘He said to me – “I will live and die on this island.” I knew he was telling the truth. John also lived here in Maui for a long time – Christine never lived here but visited many times.
‘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…’
Following her message, fans in the comments expressed their distaste at her choice of words with one writing: ‘I read this several times to try and find a way to make it not sound so bad but… it sounds so bad. @stevienicks I love you from the bottom of my butt and I know you’re just trying to spread awareness and sharing what Maui means to you and your family but this doesn’t sound as compassionate as maybe you meant it to.’
Another said: ‘What a pointless privileged tone deaf and self centered post.’
‘Wow Stevie, I’m actually disappointed in your post. People lost their homes and more and you’re going on about your niece not having a vacation home to relax in,’ was a separate user’s response to her words online.
No offense to Miss Nicks, but anyone that rich, and the Hollywood ‘stars’ are included, dont seem to see things as compassionately as any other citizen might see it as. Their ‘richness’ takes a toll on their compassion for others. Some have called it a form of being over spoiled.
I didnt read anything into her comments other than the beauty of the place she obviously loved, that has now gone.
Shame on the supposed fans. Dear Jesus what a bunch of snots.
She has feelings and she spoke of them. BIG Deal Karens
She is devastated at the loss of the place and more so about the people, people just have their own ways of expression and shame on those who dont get it and have nothing better to do than rag on her