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HomeEntertainmentOprah Winfrey Disputes Claims of $1M Payment for Kamala Harris Event: 'I...

Oprah Winfrey Disputes Claims of $1M Payment for Kamala Harris Event: ‘I Didn’t Receive a Penny’

 

 

Oprah Winfrey refutes claims of receiving $1M for Kamala Harris rally, stating: ‘I was not paid a dime’


The influential media figure held a rally to support the vice president’s presidential campaign in September.

Oprah Winfrey highlights that her patriotism has no financial incentives.

 

The renowned media personality and former talk-show host is responding to speculation that she received $1 million for her role in Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. In September, Winfrey organized a star-studded town hall event named the “Unite for America” rally.

A representative from Winfrey’s Harpo Productions shared a statement with YSL News on Tuesday, clarifying that Winfrey was “never compensated with a personal fee during the campaign, nor did she obtain a payment from Harpo,” noting that the Harris campaign covered the rally’s production expenses.

Winfrey also took to social media to set the record straight, commenting on an Instagram post showcasing paparazzi videos where she dismissed the rumor. Her publicist, Chelsea Hettrick, confirmed the authenticity of the comment.

“Generally, I prefer not to address rumors, but I have come to understand that if you don’t counter a falsehood, it tends to grow,” Winfrey remarked. “I was not paid a dime. My involvement was purely my way of supporting the campaign.”

 

Winfrey, known for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” added that Harpo was requested to supply production gear, which included “set design, lighting, cameras, microphones, crew members, producers, and everything else needed (including the benches and chairs we used) to create a live production.”

“I did not receive any personal compensation,” Winfrey affirmed. “However, the people involved in that production had to be compensated. And they were. The matter is settled.”

 

The “Unite for America” event took place on September 19 in Farmington Hills, a suburb of Detroit within Oakland County, Michigan. Approximately 400 attendees joined Winfrey and Harris in the studio, while many more watched online via platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

 

Several celebrity guests participated via Zoom, including actor Bryan Cranston, actress Julia Roberts, actress Meryl Streep, actor Ben Stiller, comedian Chris Rock, actress Tracee Ellis Ross, and singer Jennifer Lopez.

During the rally, Winfrey proclaimed that Harris’ presidential campaign “has activated a unifying spirit not seen in politics for a long time.”

 

“This is the moment for those who are fed up with the arguments and name-calling,” Winfrey continued. “People who are weary of the chaos and the fabricated stories and conspiracies.”