‘This is the moment’: Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock and other celebs support Kamala Harris
WASHINGTON — On Thursday evening, Oprah Winfrey along with several high-profile celebrities lent their support to Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, during a livestreamed town hall in pivotal Michigan, aimed at energizing her supporters and attracting undecided voters.
Winfrey took on the role of host, transforming what would typically be a talk show into a 90-minute promotional event for Vice President Harris, who joined her onstage just 47 days prior to the November election.
“Can you feel it? Can you feel the joy rising in here?” Winfrey exclaimed as Harris took to the stage in Farmington Hills, a suburb near Detroit. Harris replied, “I can.”
“This movement is about reminding each other that we have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris stated. “This is much bigger than just me. It’s about our identity as Americans.”
Around 400 attendees watched Harris and Winfrey live, while many more streamed the “Unite for America” event online via platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Several celebrities participated through Zoom, including Bryan Cranston, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Jennifer Lopez.
As with other Democratic presidential candidates in the past, Harris is benefiting from the star power of Hollywood, while Republican nominee Donald Trump has garnered support from celebrities like Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan, and entrepreneur Elon Musk, who interviewed Trump last month on X, his social media platform.
Following the close of the town hall, a Trump campaign fundraising email warned supporters that Harris is being backed by “Hollywood hacks like Oprah Winfrey” who are raising “millions for her campaign.”
‘I’m ready to turn the page,’ Chris Rock expresses
During the event, the screen displayed the faces of numerous supporters, representing groups like “Black Women for Harris,” “White Dudes for Harris,” and “White Women for Harris.”
“I’m just beaming with happiness, Oprah,” stated Cranston. “I’ve never felt this much joy and optimism surrounding a campaign in a long time.”
“I want to take my daughters to meet this Black woman president at the White House,” Rock shared with Winfrey. “I’m ready for a change. All the hate and negativity needs to come to an end.”
Winfrey took a significant step into national politics last month, speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. This rally comes as Harris gains traction in national and battleground polls, indicating she is leading Trump.
However, campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon insisted that Harris is not ahead. “We’re still in a tightly contested race,” O’Malley Dillon affirmed. “It’s a tie right here in Michigan; it’s tied in all battleground states.”
Families affected by gun violence speak to the Vice President
The town hall included various segments with voters posing questions to Harris regarding topics like gun legislation, the economy, inflation, immigration, and reproductive rights.
A particularly poignant moment occurred when the family of Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28-year-old who tragically died while pregnant due to complications related to Georgia’s restrictive abortion laws, shared their story with Harris.
“I want you to understand, Amber was not just a statistic,” her mother, Shanette Williams, conveyed to the Vice President.
Also present was Marilda Griffith, the mother of 15-year-old Natalie Griffith, who was injured during a recent tragic shooting High School in Winder, Georgia.
“You won’t understand it until you’re in that situation,” expressed Marilda Griffith, who made an emotional appeal for gun control during the program.
While discussing gun ownership, Winfrey was surprised to find out during last week’s presidential debate that Harris owns a gun.
Harris responded humorously, saying, “If someone breaks into my home, they’re going to get shot,” and then added with laughter, “Probably shouldn’t have said that. My team will handle that later.”
“Let me clarify, Oprah. I’m not aiming to take away everyone’s guns. I support the Second Amendment,” Harris continued, advocating for stricter background checks and a ban on assault weapons, calling it “just common sense.”
Winfrey appeals to independent voters
Winfrey opened the livestream saying that Harris’ campaign has “ignited a unifying energy in politics that we haven’t seen for a long time.”
She concluded the session by urging undecided voters to consider supporting the candidate in the upcoming election.
“If you’re watching and still undecided, whether you’re independent like me or just unsure of your choice,” Winfrey said. “Now is the time for all good-hearted people who want what’s best for themselves and others.”
“This is the time for those who are weary of the fighting and the insults,” she said. “Those who are tired of the chaos, fabrications, and conspiracy theories.”
Contact Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.