Oprah Winfrey has denied reports that she was paid $1 million by Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Harpo Productions, Oprah’s production company, issued a statement saying that Winfrey was never paid a “personal fee” by the campaign.
The rumor, which circulated after being reported by some outlets, claimed that Oprah received a $1 million payment for her involvement in the campaign. However, Harpo Productions clarified that the campaign only covered the production costs for a live-stream event called Unite for America held on September 19 outside Detroit, Michigan. According to the statement, “Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo.”
The confusion came after a report by The Washington Examiner on November 8, three days after the presidential election, which looked into the Harris campaign’s finances. The campaign, which raised over $1 billion in a short time, had spent significantly more than the Trump campaign, including a reported $15 million on event production. The report mentioned a $1 million payment to Harpo Productions for the Unite for America event, leading some to believe that Oprah herself was paid.
However, Harpo did not confirm the $1 million figure in its response. During the Unite for America event, Winfrey interviewed Harris on various issues like abortion rights and immigration. The virtual town hall also featured celebrity appearances, including Meryl Streep, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Julia Roberts.
After the Examiner report, some outlets falsely claimed that Winfrey had been personally paid $1 million. The rumor spread further when a video on TMZ showed Oprah being asked if she had received money for her endorsement of Harris. Winfrey immediately denied the claim, saying, “Not true. I did not get paid a penny. Ever.”