Oprah Winfrey Denies $1 Million Payment from Kamala Harris Campaign

Oprah Winfrey has vehemently denied reports that she was paid $1 million by the Kamala Harris presidential campaign for her endorsement and participation in campaign events. The allegations surfaced after a Washington Examiner analysis suggested that Harris’s campaign paid Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions, $1 million on October 15, following a star-studded town hall event hosted by Winfrey in September[1][3].

Winfrey, known for her support of Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden and Barack Obama, appeared at Harris’s final rally in Philadelphia on the eve of the election and also hosted a town hall that featured other celebrities such as Meryl Streep, Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts, and Tracee Ellis Ross. However, she insisted that she was not paid for her efforts, stating “I was paid nothing, ever”[2][3].

The Harris campaign, despite raising over a billion dollars in fundraising, ended with a $20 million deficit. The campaign’s significant expenses included six-figure payments for creating a custom set for Harris’s appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast and for high-profile concerts by artists like Jon Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and 2 Chainz in key battleground states[1].

The campaign’s financial decisions, particularly the focus on celebrity endorsements and high-profile media appearances, have been criticized by some Harris campaign staffers, who expressed their frustrations with the strategy.