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Oprah Winfrey Clarifies $1 Million Payment from Harris Campaign, Emphasizes Personal Non-Involvement

Oprah Winfrey has addressed the controversy surrounding the $1 million payment her production company, Harpo Productions, received from Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. The media mogul emphasized that she personally did not receive any compensation for her support of Harris’ campaign.

Payment Details and Purpose

The $1 million payment, made in two $500,000 installments on October 15, 2024, was solely for covering production costs associated with the “Unite for America” livestream event held on September 19 near Detroit, Michigan. Winfrey explained that the funds were used to cover various production expenses, including:

• Set design
• Lighting
• Cameras and microphones
• Crew and producers
• Other necessary equipment, including seating

Winfrey’s Response to Rumors

Responding to speculation about her involvement, Winfrey stated, “I was not paid a dime. My time and energy was my way of supporting the campaign.” She further clarified that while she did not receive any personal fee, the production workers needed to be compensated for their work.

Campaign Finance Context

A Harris campaign source confirmed that the payment was made to comply with campaign finance regulations, which require covering expenses related to appearances, including production, travel, and crew costs. Similar large expenditures for event production are not uncommon in presidential campaigns.

Public Reaction and Criticism

Despite Winfrey’s explanation, the payment has drawn criticism from some quarters. The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board suggested that given Winfrey’s personal wealth, she should have covered the production costs herself as a campaign donation. Political commentators have also weighed in, with some describing the arrangement as “irregular” or “unethical”.

In conclusion, while Winfrey maintains that neither she nor Harpo Productions profited from the arrangement, the incident has sparked a debate about the ethics of celebrity involvement in political campaigns and the transparency of campaign spending.