Current:Home > BackOprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign-InfoLens
Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
View Date:2024-12-23 06:05:10
Oprah Winfrey is setting the record straight on her involvement with Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
The former talk show host denied rumors that she was paid a $1 million personal fee to appear alongside the vice president—who lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump—at the Sept. 19 Unite for America live-streaming event in Detroit.
"Usually I am reluctant to respond to rumors in general, but these days I realize that if you don't stop a lie, it just gets bigger," she wrote on Instagram Nov. 11. "I was not paid a dime. My time and energy was my way of supporting the campaign."
While Winfrey said her Harpo Productions company was asked to supply the set—including lights, cameras, microphones and chairs—for filming, she "did not take any personal fee" for her appearance.
"However, the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were," the 70-year-old added. "End of story."
Harpo Productions also confirmed Winfrey's story, with a spokesperson telling Variety that the Harris campaign only "paid for the production costs of Unite for America."
"Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee," the rep continued, "nor did she receive a fee from Harpo."
Winfrey was a vocal champion of Harris in the months leading up to Election Day Nov. 5. In addition to the Unite for America event, she delivered a 15-minute speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August, as well as appeared at Harris' final campaign rally earlier this month.
"I know that some of you are feeling burnt out and bruised and maybe inconsequential," the media mogul told a Philadelphia crowd Nov. 4, one day before the election. "Nothing could be further from the truth: Every single vote is going to matter."
Harris, 60, formally conceded to Trump, 78, on Nov. 6, promising that the current administration under President Joe Biden "will help him and his team with his transition."
"A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results," she told her supporters gathered at her alma mater of Howard University in Washington, D.C. "That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it."
To see which celebrities voted in the 2024 election, read on.
The "Applause" singer didn't need a million reasons to get her vote on.
Hot Girl Summer? More like Hot Girl Election Day for the "Savage" rapper.
The Oscar winner celebrated her first time voting, captioning her video on Instagram, "I VOTED!!! Your girl is a #VirginVoter NO MORE!!!"
The Star Trek alum struck a pose with her "I Voted" sticker in both English and Spanish.
The 7th Heaven actress looked like she was on cloud nine after casting her ballot.
"Don’t sit this one out," the comedian wrote on Instagram. "Vote with your conscious."
The Step Up alum stepped up to the ballot box with her youngest daughter Rhiannon.
"With your vote today, give yourself a voice that can make the change that you envision in the world," the Friday Night Lights alum wrote on Instagram. "And feel how good that feels. Joy."
The Precious star filled out her ballot at home, joking, "When you vote at the kitchen counter, you can wear what you want."
"Get out and VOTE!" the Blue Lagoon actress wrote on Instagram. "This is probably the most important election in our lifetime."
"We voted!" the Substance actress shared on Instagram. "Voting is such an important part of our democracy, don’t forget to exercise your right to vote!"
The Frozen star didn't let his ballot go to waste.
"I hope you all exercised your fundamental right to vote and have your voice heard today," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram Nov. 5. "I DID!"
The Orange Is the New Black alum showed off her Georgia peach sticker.
It may be a Tuesday, but the Wednesday actress headed to the polls nonetheless.
The "My Type" rapper tapped into voting.
Beyoncé's mom got into formation on Election Day.
The rocker gave voting a good name.
Looks like the Big Bang Theory alum made a big bang at the ballot box.
The 30 Rock alum and his wife snapped a selfie after voting in New York City.
"It's a privilege and a duty," the Modern Family star captioned his voting selfie. "VOTE!"
The model struck a pose with her "I Voted" sticker.
The Queer Eye star had his sights set on voting this year.
"If you ask nicely," the late night talk show host joked, "they’ll put the sticker on your head."
The musician and the Reno 911! star made voting into a morning date.
Not need to wait for it: The How I Met Your Mother alum already cast his vote.
The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants alum traveled all the way to the voting booth.
The two pals took to the voting booths together.
"Please remember that whoever you are and wherever you live," the Friends alum wrote on Instagram, "your voice matters. Your VOTE matters."
The Abbott Elementary star shared her A+ election day selfie.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (84)
Related
- Will Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve, gets engaged to girlfriend Amanda Dubin
- Hundreds of manatees huddle together for warmth at Three Sisters Springs in Florida: Watch
- Africa’s Catholic hierarchy refuses same-sex blessings, says such unions are contrary to God’s will
- Poland’s opposition, frustrated over loss of power, calls protest against new pro-EU government
- Minnesota county to pay $3.4M to end lawsuit over detainee’s death
- Monthly skywatcher's guide to 2024: Eclipses, full moons, comets and meteor showers
- Modi’s beach visit to a remote Indian archipelago rakes up a storm in the Maldives
- Clarins 24-Hour Flash Deal— Get 50% off the Mask That Depuffs My Skin in Just 10 Minutes
- Does your dog have arthritis? A lot of them do. But treatment can be tricky
- Why Golden Bachelor's Leslie Was Uncomfortable During Gerry and Theresa's Wedding
Ranking
- Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Starting a Family With Wife Alba Baptista
- Robert Downey Jr. Reacts to Robert De Niro’s Golden Globes Mix-Up
- Virginia woman wins $1 million in lottery raffle after returning from vacation
- Scientists discover 350,000 mile tail on planet similar to Jupiter
- 13 Skincare Gifts Under $50 That Are Actually Worth It
- Can the US handle more immigration? History and the Census suggest the answer is yes.
- Researchers identify a fossil unearthed in New Mexico as an older, more primitive relative of T. rex
- 213 deaths were caused by Japan’s New Year’s quake. 8 happened in the alleged safety of shelters
Recommendation
-
Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
-
$100 million gift from Lilly Endowment aims to shore up HBCU endowments
-
Alabama's challenge after Nick Saban: Replacing legendary college football coach isn't easy
-
Google should pay a multibillion fine in antitrust shopping case, an EU court adviser says
-
Disease could kill most of the ‘ohi‘a forests on Hawaii’s Big Island within 20 years
-
Pat McAfee says Aaron Rodgers is no longer appearing on his show
-
Deion Sanders thinks college football changed so much it 'chased the GOAT' Nick Saban away
-
Tennessee governor unveils legislation targeting use of artificial intelligence in music