By Ebi Kesiena
Media icon Oprah Winfrey has firmly refuted claims that she was paid $1 million to host a town hall event for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, dismissing the rumors as false.
In a statement on Tuesday, Winfrey clarified that she was not compensated at all for her involvement in the event, countering reports from the Washington Examiner that her company, Harpo Productions, received a substantial fee to facilitate a celebrity town hall in support of the Democratic nominee.
In response to questions about the alleged payment, Winfrey stated that the rumors were “not true” and emphasized, “I was paid nothing—ever.”
The September town hall, held virtually, featured several high-profile Hollywood figures, including Meryl Streep, Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts, and Tracee Ellis Ross, who made appearances via Zoom.
While Winfrey has consistently shown her support for the Democratic Party, endorsing figures such as Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in her 2016 campaign, she reiterated that her involvement in the Harris event was purely voluntary.
She also served as a keynote speaker at a Harris rally in Philadelphia, alongside singer Lady Gaga, in a last-minute effort to sway voters in the crucial swing state.
Despite these efforts, Donald Trump ultimately won the election, securing 312 electoral votes, and is set to be sworn in as the President in January.
