WASHINGTON ― As Democrats reel over how Vice President Kamala Harris’ losing campaign spent more than $1 billion, a new campaign finance report confirms that the Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign paid Oprah Winfrey’s production company $1 million.
The records put an end to a monthslong controversy over whether Winfrey was paid for endorsing the former Democratic presidential nominee.
Rumors exploded in November that Harris campaign paid the former talk show host for her support after a story by the Washington Times cited Federal Election Commission finance records showing that Winfrey’s company, Harpo Productions, received $1 million from Harris.
Oprah Winfrey speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
Winfrey denied all allegations that she received money from the Harris campaign when asked by paparazzi in mid-November about whether she was paid for her endorsement. “Not true. I was paid nothing, ever,” she responded at the time.
But shortly after a video of the exchange was posted on Instagram, Winfrey sought to clarify. Commenting on the video, she explained that her company, Harpo Productions, was paid for its work helping produce Harris’ “Unite for America” livestream rally on Sept. 19.
The event, hosted along with the activist group Win with Black Women, featured major celebrities including comedian Chris Rock along with actors Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Bryan Cranston. It was aimed at registering people to vote in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan – all of which Harris ended up losing in the election.
The company, Winfrey said, was asked to provide set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew and producers, among other items for the event. Winfrey added that she did not receive a cut of the money.
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“I did not take any personal fee,” Winfrey said in her comment. “However, the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story.”
Aides from Harris’ campaign quickly came to Winfrey’s defense. Adrienne Elrod, a senior adviser and senior spokesperson for the former Democratic nominee, told the publication Deadline that the campaign had never paid an artist or performer at one of its events – other than for costs associated with travel or other “ancillary costs.”
Companies, like Harpo, are not legally allowed to donate to political campaigns whether through cash donations or other expenses, like the costs associated with putting on an event, and must be reimbursed or paid.
Campaign finance records published this week confirm that Harpo Productions received two $500,000 payments from the Harris campaign for its work on the September event. The payments were part of millions of dollars Harris dolled out to major production firms and advertising agencies in her doomed effort to win the 2024 presidential campaign.
Harris spent an additional $575,000 to run a 90-second ad on the outside of the Las Vegas Sphere ahead of a rally she hosted before Election Day, according to campaign finance reports. The campaign spent millions more on television and digital advertisements throughout the election.
Much of that spending is now under microscope, as Democrats assess Harris loss and where her campaign went wrong in the 2024 election.
Contributing: Sarah D. Wire
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris campaign paid Oprah’s company $1 million, records confirm
