Oprah Winfrey has denied charges that she was captured for her supposed contribution in a worldwide 𝓈ℯ𝓍 dealing ring. Despite the fact that she has had the option to invalidate the paranoid fear, that hasn’t prevented her from moving on the web. In any case, that hasn’t dialed her back, she has insight: there have been different embarrassments all through her profession for which Winfrey has been scrutinized.
Unexpectedly, fake news started with a post on Facebook. In this false story, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is said to have offered a plea deal to reduce his prison sentence. He claimed he could name celebrities believed to be involved in the 𝓈ℯ𝓍 trafficking club along with the deceased Jeffrey Epstein. Weinstein reportedly named Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Charlie Sheen, and more.
@bdabxoer shared the Facebook post on her Twitter feed:
Another Facebook post continued to falsely claim that the National Guard had raided Winfrey’s home in Boca Raton, Florida. It is not only believed that tunnels were found underground, but also that the entire property was sealed off. User Lili Milan shared the post, which included photos believed to be from the event, on her Facebook profile.
In the late hours of Tuesday, fake news spread and The Color Purple actress’s name started trending on Twitter. Conspiracy theories about an “international pedophile ring” have found their way to Facebook originating from online adherents of QAnon.
Early Wednesday morning, Winfrey then set the record straight on her official Twitter account. “Just got a phone call that my name is trending. And being trolled for something horribly fake. That’s not true,” Winfrey tweeted. “Haven’t been raided or captured yet. Just sanitized and self-isolated from the rest of the world. Stay safe everyone.”
Russell Simmons
Ahead of its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Winfrey dropped out as executive producer of the 2020 documentary, On the Record. Directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering had collaborated on a feature to expose 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual harassment in the music industry centered around hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons who was accused of rape and 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual assault.
In her statement, Winfrey stated, “In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision.”
John Of God
On December 11, 2018, Brazilian faith healer, João Teixeira de Faria, also known as John of God, was accused as a serial 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual abuser. Several women came forward with testimony of Faria committing unwanted 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual advances during his healing sessions. The renowned medium had gained international recognition after Oprah Winfrey profiled Faria in 2010 and then interviewed him at his center back in 2012, per The New York Times.
Though video of her 2010 profile has been taken down from Youtube, Winfrey described Faria, “People around the world credit John of God and the spirits that work through him for many miraculous healings. He has also been misunderstood by some, persecuted by others and even accused of impropriety.”
Upon hearing about the allegations, which included rape, Winfrey issued a statement on December 17, 2018, “I empathize with the women now coming forward and hope justice is served,” per CNN.
Harvey Weinstein
On March 7, 2018, during Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop Podcast, Winfrey claimed she had no knowledge of Weinstein’s alleged 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual misconduct. Weinstein had been accused of previous 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual harassment or assault by more than 60 women, according to CNN. Winfrey had previously worked with Weinstein, who was credited as executive producer on IMDB, on the 2013 drama, Lee Daniel’s The Butler.
Winfrey described her association with the convicted Hollywood producer, “Was I friendly with Harvey? Yes, I was friendly with Harvey. Was I in association with Harvey for the Butler movie? Yes, but of course I didn’t know any of this was going on.”
