Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most influential women in the world. After her sensationalThe Oprah Winfrey Showlaunched her into fame, Winfrey used her fortune from television to venture into philanthropy. Coming from humble beginnings, she knew that she could help a lot of underprivileged people around the world to get the best opportunities.
However, the champion of women and LGBT+ rights has recently found herself in the midst of controversies. Winfrey’s alleged connections to disgraced individuals like Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, and Diddy have called her philanthropic work into question.
Oprah Winfrey’s philanthropy still earns her respect from audiences
According toForbes,Oprah Winfreydonated nearly $400 million to educational organizations until 2012. She is one of the top African-American philanthropic individuals in America. According to the data fromlooktothestars.org, Winfrey had 31 charities working across 27 causes.
Most of her money went into her foundations: The Oprah Winfrey Foundation (est. 1987), Oprah’s Angel Network (1998-2010), and The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (est. 2010). Winfrey used to promote The Angel Network through her talk show and donations went to fund individual projects.
Some of the projects funded by Angel Network include The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and Rebuilding the Gulf Coast. The Oprah Winfrey Operating Foundation was formed in 2002 to raise funds for and build Winfrey’s Leadership Academy.
We Now Know How Much Money Donald Trump Paid Joe Rogan to Endorse Him- Oprah Winfrey’s $1 Million Salary Allegation is Still a Mystery
Under the Angel Network, Winfrey also established different registries for Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The funds raised were then used to build homes in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. The charity stopped accepting donations in 2010 after the end ofThe Oprah Winfrey Showand eventually shit down.
The operations of Angel Network later went under The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation. Winfrey also exclusively runs The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, which is a separate entity and is funded by an endowment. All these charity organizations have helped Winfrey to extend her helping hands across the world.
Oprah also donates to various foundations, including the Mississippi Animal Rescue League, Clinton Foundation, Project Cuddle, and Free The Children. Winfrey puts her own money from her$3 billion net worthinto these charities (via Forbes).
Winfrey has recently entered into a multi-content contract with Apple’s streaming service. Under this contract, she has created shows, includingOprah’s Book Club,Oprah Talks COVID-19, andThe Oprah Conversationfor AppleTV+.
Why is Oprah Winfrey receiving hate lately?
Oprah Winfrey’s image took some hit after several allegations popped up against her. Last year,Taraji P. Hensonshared that she almost walked away fromThe Color Purple, co-produced by Winfrey (via The Cut). She shared that she faced disrespect on the sets of the film over her unequal pay structure.
Oprah Winfrey Went to Epstein’s Island, Barack Obama Has a Role in P Diddy’s Parties- Suge Knight Comes up With New Career Ending Allegations
Later, she was entangled in another controversy when people accused her of being a client of Jeffrey Epstein. However, a fact check byReutersproved that while her name appears in the court documents, she was never named as a client anywhere in the document.
She went viral in 2021 when a 2003 interview of her questioning Dolly Parton’s plastic surgery resurfaced on the internet. It also prompted Rose McGowan to speak out against Winfrey, accusing her of being friends with Harvey Weinstein and abandoning the victims of Russell Simmons (via Business Insider).
Amidst the recent Diddy scandal,Winfrey’s name was once again draggedthrough the mud. According to a VHS tape leaked toPage Six, several celebrities were sent invitations to Diddy’s 29th birthday celebrations in 1998. One of the prominent names in the tape was that of Winfrey.
She has been friends with the rapper for years and has been silent regarding the allegations against him. The invitation was also extended to other celebrities like Donald Trump, Ellen DeGeneres, Mariah Carey, Chris Rock, Will Smith, and others.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
