Kathrine Frich
She defended her initial choices based on what she knew back then.
Building a television empire involves decisions that alter lives forever. Sometimes, the talent you launch takes an unexpected path. A legendary talk show host is now speaking out about two of her creations.
A massive platform
Oprah Winfrey built an enormous platform by turning unknown experts into household names. Two of her most prominent success stories now operate at the highest levels of conservative politics.
Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz owe their television careers to the media mogul. Today, both men firmly support Donald Trump.
Critics often blame the host for giving these figures their initial audience. Winfrey has finally addressed the backlash in a new interview with Emmy Magazine, according to HuffPost.
“People criticize me for Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, because of their politics or their views,” Winfrey told the publication.
Deflecting the blame
She quickly distanced herself from their current political actions. Winfrey insisted their choices belong entirely to them.
“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,” Winfrey stated.
McGraw first joined her program in 1998. He had previously helped her prepare for a highly stressful libel trial.
“Dr. Phil, he was so practical, so down to earth, so real,” she told Emmy Magazine. She added that he rode in the car with her every single morning during the grueling court battle.
Finding the language
That personal support convinced her to put him on television.
A few years later, Gayle King introduced her to Oz. The surgeon immediately impressed her with his straightforward communication style.
“He explained practical things like colon cancer and bowel movements,” Winfrey told the magazine. “I thought he had the language for explaining medical things in a way that was helpful to me. I thought it would be helpful to many other people. And that is how they ended up on the show.”
Completely different paths
She defended her initial choices based on what she knew back then.
“At the time, the reason and intention behind me giving them their breaks was I thought they had valuable information to share that had been meaningful to me,” Winfrey concluded.
Both men have generated fierce controversy recently, with McGraw now regularly appearing at Trump rallies.
Meanwhile, Trump appointed Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The doctor previously faced intense criticism for selling unproven supplements on his daytime program.
Sources: HuffPost, Emmy Magazine
