Oprah Winfrey has publicly distanced herself from Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz. These media personalities, whom she helped launch into fame, are now associated with conservative politics. Winfrey recently shared her thoughts with Emmy Magazine about her career and her feelings towards McGraw and Oz.
Oprah’s Perspective
In the interview, Winfrey addressed the criticism she faces due to the political views of McGraw and Oz. “People criticize me for Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, because of their politics or their views,” she said. Winfrey recounted the support she received from Dr. Phil during a legal battle in the late 90s. He was a practical, down-to-earth presence, accompanying her to court.
Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz’s Political Involvement
Dr. Oz has embraced a political role, having been endorsed by Donald Trump during his 2022 Senate campaign in Pennsylvania, although he lost to John Fetterman. While Dr. Phil has not publicly supported any political party, he attended a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in October 2024 and was seen with ICE personnel during immigration raids.
Oprah’s Motivation
Winfrey emphasized her intentions in promoting McGraw and Oz. She believed in their ability to share meaningful information. Dr. Oz explained medical topics such as colon cancer in a way that she found clear, which motivated her to feature him on her show.
Winfrey clarified, “Everybody has their own path in life, and it has not one thing to do with me, and I don’t have one thing to do with them.” Her original motivation was to share valuable insights they provided.
Public Reactions and Opinions
Dr. Phil, despite not revealing his voting preference in 2024, is recognized as a conservative commentator. Curtis Houck, managing editor for Media Research Center’s NewsBusters, noted that Winfrey herself does not shy away from political involvement. “Oprah certainly doesn’t have a problem with being friends with progressives or anyone willing to take on Trump,” he commented.
Houck further remarked, “Oprah wants us to feel bad for woke Prince Harry and Meghan or the woman in the Coldplay kiss cam. She herself is stuck on Woke 1.” The term “Woke 1” was used by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez when discussing far-left identity politics.
“Oprah and her friend CBS ‘Journalist’ Gayle King can continue promoting whatever causes they want, but they shouldn’t be seen as non-partisan,” Houck concluded.
Alexander Hall, an associate editor for Fox News Digital, contributed to these insights.