Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions, has denied rumors that the TV host was paid $1 million to participate in an online event in support of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
A Harpo spokesperson said in a statement: “The campaign paid for the production costs of Unite for America, an event that went live on Sept. 19 outside of Detroit, Michigan.” Via Miscellaneous. “At no time during the campaign did Oprah Winfrey pay any personal fees, nor did she receive any fees from Harpo.”
The statement was published by Washington Examinerwhich looked at how the Harris campaign used the $1 billion they raised over three months. The report said the campaign “spent more than $15 million, according to federal filings, on “event production.” This included a $1 million payment to Harpo Productions for a “Unite for America” event held in September.
Several media outlets later reported that Winfrey herself was paid for the event. On Monday, TMZ posted a video asking Winfrey if it was true that she was paid $1 million to endorse Harris. “That’s not true,” Winfrey responded. “I didn’t get paid at all.”
Winfrey has been a staunch supporter of Democrats throughout the election cycle. In August, she spoke at the Democratic National Convention, calling on independent and undecided voters to support Harris. Winfrey told the crowd: “America is an ongoing project,” Winfrey told the crowd. “It requires commitment. It requires openness to hard work and hard work for democracy, and every now and then it requires standing up to the bullies in life.
She added: “Let us choose the beautiful promise of tomorrow over the bitter return to yesterday. We will not go back. We will not retreat, we will not retreat, we will not be bullied, we will not be expelled. We will not go back. Let us choose truth. Let’s choose honor and let’s choose joy! Because this is the best of America.
The Unite for America event took place on September 19 via livestream. Winfrey appeared in an interview with Harris along with appearances by Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, and Bryan Cranston. According to ReutersHarris’ campaign said nearly 200,000 people signed up to watch the livestream, while nearly 100,000 people joined to watch on YouTube. Winfrey later joined Harris at her rally in Philadelphia before Election Day.
A source