WASHINGTON ― As Democrats question how Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign lost more than $1 billion, a new financial report confirms that the Democratic presidential candidate’s campaign paid Oprah Winfrey’s production company $1 million.
The records end a month-long controversy over whether Winfrey was paid to endorse the former Democratic presidential candidate.
Rumors erupted in November that the Harris campaign paid a former talk show host to endorse her after a Washington Times story cited Federal Election Commission financial 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. “No. I wasn’t paid anything. ever,” they replied at the time.
But shortly after a video of the exchange was posted on Instagram, Winfrey sought clarification. Speaking about the video, he explained that his company, Harpo Productions, was paid for its work to help produce Harris’ “Unite for America” livestream rally on September 19.
The event, held in conjunction with the rights group Win with Black Women, featured celebrities including actor Chris Rock as well as 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 lost in the election.
The company, Winfrey said, was asked to provide the design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew and producers, among other things for the event. Winfrey added that she did not receive a cut of the money.
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“I didn’t take any money from anyone,” Winfrey said in her statement. “However, the people who worked on this production should have been paid. And they were. End of story.”
Aides from the Harris campaign quickly came to Winfrey’s defense. Adrienne Elrod, a senior adviser and spokeswoman for the former Democratic candidate, told the publication last week that the campaign has never paid a singer or actor at any of its events — except for travel-related expenses or other “extra expenses.”
Companies, like Harpo, are not legally allowed to give to political parties either through donations or other expenses, such as costs related to putting on an event, and must be reimbursed or reimbursed.
Campaign finance records released this week confirm that Harpo Productions received two of the $500 million donations from the Harris campaign for its work at the September event. The money was part of the millions of dollars that Harris gave to major design firms and advertising agencies in his bid to win the 2024 presidential election.
Harris spent another $575,000 to run a 90-second ad outside the Las Vegas Sphere ahead of a rally he held before Election Day, according to campaign finance reports. The campaign spent millions on television and digital advertising throughout the election.
Much of that spending is now under the microscope, as Democrats analyze Harris’ loss and where his campaign is headed in 2024.
Contributor: Sarah D. Wire
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris campaign paid Oprah’s company $1 million, sources confirm