The Chicago Tribune has criticised Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign for spending a huge amount of money on celebrity-backed events, including $1 million paid to Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions.
Federal Election Commission filings reveal two $500,000 payments were made to Harpo following Winfrey’s appearances with Harris at campaign events. While Winfrey has denied receiving personal fees, the Tribune editorial suggested the production costs should have been listed as campaign donations and argued the campaign should have focused on substantive engagement with voters instead of celebrity endorsements.
The Tribune editorial board noted that while production expenses are valid, the optics of paying a celebrity-linked production company such sums might have detracted from Harris’ message.
The board argued that relying on celebrity events rather than substantive interactions with journalists and voters likely contributed to the campaign’s failure.
A Harpo spokesperson told Variety magazine that the payments were strictly for production costs, and Winfrey was not personally compensated. However, the editorial underscored the inefficacy of such strategies in addressing voters’ concerns and fostering trust in Harris’ leadership vision.
This is pathetic.
If all the paid Hollywood celebrities for Kamala genuinely support her, why don’t they return their paychecks? For example, Oprah was paid $1 million, and Beyoncé $10 million.
Instead, Kamala is asking everyday people to help pay off her debt. What a… pic.twitter.com/i1h4Qgbgo9
— Louis Montoya (@montoyalouis1) November 10, 2024
Oprah Winfrey is asked if she was paid for her endorsement of Kamala Harris for president.
Winfrey denied ever being paid, but FEC filings say she received two payments of $500k each.
Why would she deny this? pic.twitter.com/Mk66dFl7mE
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) November 12, 2024
The sad part is I use to respect Oprah. She let the fame, money and power destroy her character. Thank you Stephen A for calling this out. pic.twitter.com/9LxFjp500Q
— Common Cent$ (@Common_Cent1) November 15, 2024
