One wonders why the media tycoon and previous platform host, Oprah Winfrey, despite her wealth, felt the need to stand up and vehemently deny compensation allegations for her contributions to the vice presidential campaign of Kamala Harris. The event under scrutiny was a high-profile town hall gathering, adorned with the optimistic label ‘Unite for America’, that took place in September. Such a gathering seemed an elegant exercise in rhetoric, but once one digs deeper, it seems clear that not everything is as it seems.
Winfrey, in what appears to be an urgent haste to confront unsubstantiated gossip, posted on Instagram regarding the rumors of her receiving a $1 million payout. She penned, ‘Usually I am hesitant to respond to hearsay, but these days I realize that if you do not quash a fabrication, it merely inflates.’ The frantic efforts included her assertion that she was not remunerated a single cent. Supposedly, it was her ‘time and energy’ that was her ‘method of backing the campaign.’
Following up on Winfrey’s hurried denial, a spokesperson chimed in stating that she had not received any ‘personal fee’ at any juncture during the campaign. To add to this fray, the spokesperson also clarified that the expenses accrued for the rally’s organization were footed by Harris’ campaign. Apparently, these attempts at clearing the air were not as impactful as intended, given the continued doubt surrounding the event.
A perplexing element of the narrative was Winfrey’s claim that Harpo, her production company, was solicited to supply production equipment. This included ‘set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew, producers, and every other item necessary…’, she claimed. Strangely, she even felt the need to mention the seating furniture. An overzealous attempt to clear one’s name, perhaps? She stressed that no personal fee was procured, but the production crew did receive their paychecks. Thus, the ‘story’ concluded.
Let’s take a moment to ponder on the location and attendees of this rally, packaged as the ‘Unite for America’. The spectacle unfolded on September 19 in the suburban neighborhood of Farmington Hills, located in Oakland County, Michigan. The event saw approximately 400 individuals, handpicked to huddle with Winfrey and Harris, enclosed within the studio. The coverage was extended to multitudinous platforms absorbing audiences from a distance.
The rally saw an influx of celebrities, presumably as a ploy to boost its appeal. It witnessed remote participation from Hollywood A-listers like Bryan Cranston, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross, along with pop sensation Jennifer Lopez. It seems an elaborate effort was made to paint a picture of unity, hinting at a hefty expense to create a façade of glamour around the evening.
During the course of the evening, Winfrey publicized her assertion that Harris’ vice-presidential campaign had ‘activated a unifying force unlike anything we’ve seen in politics in a very long time.’ Seems an overly dramatic portrayal for what was essentially a campaign rally. It reflects a desperate attempt to present political chaos as a ‘unifying force’.
Furthermore, Winfrey proclaimed, ‘This is the moment for people who are tired of all of the strife and all of the name-calling.’ One might ask, exactly whose ‘strife’ and ‘name-calling’ was she referring to and how does this rally offer a respite? She continues, criticising ‘those exhausted by the madness and the fabricated narratives and the conspiracies.’ An intriguing attempt to shift blame suggests more concern for image than for truth.