Media magnate Oprah Winfrey insists she was not paid for her work on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, saying she personally didn’t accept a dime.
When asked by TMZ about $1 million the Harris campaign paid to her production company, Ms. Winfrey said the reports were “not true” and she “was paid nothing — ever.”
Ms. Winfrey’s denial comes after Federal Election Commission records revealed that her production company, Harpo Productions, was paid $1 million by the Harris campaign in September. The filings don’t reveal any details about the payment or if it went to Ms. Winfrey’s production team or elsewhere.
The payday came just weeks after Ms. Winfrey hosted a star-studded town hall with the vice president featuring Meryl Streep, Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and Julia Roberts.
Ms. Winfrey also appeared at a Philadelphia rally for Ms. Harris on the eve of Election Night, where she delivered an impassioned plea for voters to send Ms. Harris to the Oval Office. The event featured performances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
“We’re voting for healing over hate,” Ms. Winfrey told the crowd.
The Harris campaign raised more than $1 billion in its effort to defeat former President Donald Trump but lost all seven battleground states, where Ms. Harris had A-list singers perform concerts on her behalf. Mr. Trump easily won the Electoral College and the popular vote.
FEC filings revealed that Ms. Harris spent more than $15 million on “event production.” The filing dates coincide with big-name concerts and campaign rallies featuring rapper 2 Chainz in Georgia and the Isley Brothers in Wisconsin.
The dates of the expense reports include the election eve concerts featuring a slew of A-list performers in swing states. Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin sang in Philadelphia, Katy Perry performed a concert in Pittsburgh, and Jon Bon Jovi played in Detroit.
The evening’s events could push the total tab on celebrity performances beyond $20 million.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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