"But there is a paper trail" — Internet reacts to Oprah denying reports of Kamala Harris' campaign paying her $1M
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is at the center of an online frenzy following her public denial of claims that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' re-election campaign paid her $1 million for endorsement-related activities.
On November 12, 2024, American conservative political commentator Benny Johnson shared a video on his X account featuring Oprah Winfrey.
The footage captures Winfrey walking casually on the street toward her car when Johnson approaches and questions her about the alleged $1 million endorsement payment. Winfrey promptly denies the claim, asserting she was not paid for any endorsement.
As a result, internet sleuths and meme creators have flooded social media platforms like X with comments, with many suggesting that there is evidence of Winfrey getting paid —
"But there is a paper trail," one commented.
Moreover, some users on X shared a screenshot purportedly showing a $1 million transaction to Harpo Productions, a company founded by Winfrey, suggesting that this transaction is documented and could validate the claims —
"She is a liar. FEC indicates two separate payments for $500,000.00 each," one user commented.
"Well, it's documented, so where did the money go Oprah? Is this some money laundering scheme you are complicit in with Kamala?" another commented.
"It's on the FEC, b*tch!" a netizen commented.
However, some users on X suggested that while Winfrey may not have been directly compensated, the funds were instead allocated to her company. Others speculated that her denial was an attempt to cover up the transaction —
"Technically she didn't get paid. Her company in fact got paid. See how she knows that thinking we are dumb. She got paid it's her company," a user on X noted.
"Her production company was paid the money," another commented.
"Of course she denied it, they always try to cover for each other," one more commented.
Currently, representatives from Kamala Harris' campaign have yet to comment on the allegations, and no credible sources have provided evidence of the screenshot that is being circulated online of the purported payment to Harpo Productions.
Did Kamala Harris' campaign fund Oprah Winfrey's support with $1 million?
The allegation that Oprah Winfrey received $1 million from Kamala Harris' campaign emerged on November 8, 2024, following a report by the Washington Examiner.
According to the report, federal filings revealed that Kamala Harris's campaign allocated over $15 million toward event production expenses, which reportedly included a $1 million payment to Winfrey's company, Harpo Productions, for organizing the Unite for America live-stream event.
As a result, speaking to Variety on November 11, 2024, Harpo Productions' spokesperson denied the rumors and suggested that Winfrey was never "paid a personal fee" by Kamala Harris' presidential campaign —
"The campaign paid for the production costs of 'Unite for America,' a live-streaming event that took place Sept. 19 outside Detroit, Mich. Oprah Winfrey was at no point during the campaign paid a personal fee, nor did she receive a fee from Harpo," the spokesperson said.
The live stream event, Unite for America, happened on September 19, 2024. Oprah Winfrey interviewed Kamala Harris and asked about some serious matters in the United States, including abortion rights and immigration rules.
As per NewsX, during the interview, Harris highlighted the strain of illegal immigration on U.S. resources, voiced support for stricter gun regulations, and condemned recent abortion restrictions.
Oprah Winfrey has publicly denied claims that Kamala Harris' campaign paid her. However, a report from the Washington Examiner not only suggested that Winfrey's company, Harpo Productions, received $1 million but also noted that the Harris campaign allocated six figures toward building up the Call Her Daddy podcast —
"A source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner that the Harris campaign spent six figures on building a set for Harris's appearance on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper," the Examiner wrote.
These allegations remain unverified, as no official source from Kamala Harris' team has confirmed or denied them. The claims continue circulating without a definitive statement from campaign representatives, leaving room for speculation.