Prince William has said the royals are “very much not a racist family” in his first comments after accusations by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The Duke of Cambridge also said he had not yet spoken to his brother but would do so.
Meghan and Prince Harry said a royal had expressed concern over “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be.
Buckingham Palace previously said the claim was “concerning” but it would be addressed privately.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said “recollections may vary” but that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would “always be much loved family members”.
During a visit to a school in Stratford, east London, on March 11, Prince William was asked by a reporter: “Is the Royal Family a racist family, sir?”
The prince replied: “We’re very much not a racist family.”
Asked whether he had spoken to Prince Harry since the Oprah interview, the Duke of Cambridge said: “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet but I will do.”
Prince William’s visit is not the first appearance by a senior royal since the interview aired – Prince Charles carried out an engagement earlier this week.
In the TV interview, Meghan told Oprah there were “concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he was born”.
Both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refused to say who made the comment – but Harry later clarified to Oprah that it was not the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh.
During the interview Prince Harry also said it hurt him that his family never spoke out about the “colonial undertones” of news headlines and articles.
Asked by Oprah if the couple left the UK because of racism from the tabloid media, Prince Harry replied: “It was a large part of it.”
In the interview, Prince Harry also spoke about his relationship with his family – especially with his father, the Prince of Wales, and brother Prince William.
At one point after stepping back as senior royals, Prince Harry said Prince Charles “stopped taking my calls”.
And of William, Prince Harry said: “The relationship is ‘space’ at the moment. And time heals all things, hopefully.”
Buckingham Palace issued a response to the interview earlier this week following crisis meetings involving senior royals.
Figures from CBS suggest that nearly 50 million people around the world have watched Oprah’s interview with the couple.
The fallout from the interview has also seen broadcaster Piers Morgan leave his role as host of Good Morning Britain, after his comments about Meghan Markle attracted 41,000 complaints.
Meghan Markle has said she found life within the British Royal Family so difficult that at times she “didn’t want to be alive any more”.
In a deeply personal TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex said that she did not get help when she asked for it.
She also said a low point was when Prince Harry was asked by an unnamed family member “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be.
Harry also revealed that his father, Prince Charles, stopped taking his calls when he wanted to step back.
The highly-anticipated interview with Oprah, which Meghan and Harry were not paid for, aired overnight in the US.
During the two-hour CBS special, to be screened in the UK on ITV at 21:00 GMT on March 8 and on ITV Hub, Courtesy of Harpo Productions/CBS, the couple covered a range of topics, including racism, mental health, their relationship with the media and Royal Family dynamics.
The couple announced their second child, which is due in the summer, is a girl.
They also revealed that they exchanged vows in a ceremony led by the Archbishop of Canterbury in their “backyard” three days before they were legally married at their public wedding in May 2018.
Prince Harry said his brother and father were “trapped within the system” of the Royal Family
He said his family cut him off financially at the beginning of last year.
However, Harry said he loved his brother “to bits” and wanted to heal his relationship with both him and his father.
Meghan revealed that she phoned the Queen after Prince Philip went into hospital last month.
The couple moved to California after formally stepping down from royal duties in March 2020, and it was announced last month that they would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle said that she started to feel lonely when limits were placed on what she could do, revealing that at one point she did not leave the house for months.
At one point the Duchess of Sussex thought she “could not feel lonelier”, she told Oprah Winfrey.
Asked by Oprah if she was thinking of self-harm and having suicidal thoughts at some stage, Meghan Markle, 39, replied: “Yes. This was very, very clear. Very clear and very scary. I didn’t know who to turn to in that.”
The duchess said that she felt “haunted” by a photograph from an official event she attended with Prince Harry at the Royal Albert Hall while she was pregnant.
She said that she attended the event with Harry that night because she felt she could not be “left alone” and recalled Harry gripping her hand tightly while in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Oprah also asked Meghan why she thought the Royal Family did not make her son Archie a prince – which Meghan said she wanted so that he would get police protection.
The couple’s children do not automatically become princes or princesses because of a rule that has been in place since 1917 – unless the Queen steps in.
She said the remarks about skin color were made to Prince Harry and he relayed them to her.
Asked by Oprah whether there were concerns that her child would be “too brown” and that would be a problem, Meghan said: “If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.”
When pressed, the duchess refused to reveal who the individual was, saying: “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
Prince Harry also refused to give further details, saying: “That conversation, I am never going to share.”
“At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked,” he added.
Prince Harry, 36, said that none of his relatives spoke out in support of Meghan following the racism he said his wife faced from the media.
“No-one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts,” Harry said.
During the interview, the Royal Family were also accused of failing to protect the duke and duchess, with Meghan saying the situation “started to really worsen” after the couple married in May 2018.
Meghan was referencing rumors that she had made Kate Middleton cry during a disagreement about flower girl dresses – a story that prompted a flurry of tabloid stories.
She said the opposite happened. She added that Kate later apologized, bringing flowers and a note to make amends.
Joining Meghan and Oprah for the second half of the interview, Prince Harry talked about his relationship with the rest of his family.
He said his relationship with his grandmother, the Queen, was “really good” and that the two of them speak often.
However, his relationship with his father, Prince Charles, has suffered.
Prince Harry said that he feels “really let down” by his father. He added that he will always love him, but “there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened”.
He described his father and his brother as “trapped within the system” of the Royal Family.
“They don’t get to leave,” he added.
Of Prince William, he said they were on “different paths”.
Prince Harry also revealed that his family had cut him off financially at the beginning of last year, after the couple announced their intention to step back as senior royals.
The prince said deals with Netflix and Spotify were “never part of the plan” but they needed them to pay for security staff.
In a teaser clip of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex had been asked how she felt about the palace hearing her “speak your truth today”.
She has said Buckingham Palace could not expect her and Prince Harry to be silent if it was “perpetuating falsehoods about us”.
Meghan also said: “If that comes with risk of losing things, I mean… there is a lot that has been lost already.”
Buckingham Palace is investigating claims Meghan Markle bullied royal staff.
The allegations of bullying leveled at Meghan were published after the interview with Oprah was recorded.
The interview with Oprah, which will air in the US on March 7 and in the UK on March 8, is expected to detail Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s short period as working royals together before they stepped down for a life in the US.
In the 30-second teaser clip released by CBS, Oprah Winfrey asks Meghan: “How do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today?”
The duchess replies: “I don’t know how they could expect that, after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit their roles as senior working royals in March 2020, and now live in California.
A report in the Times on March 3 claimed the duchess faced a complaint made in October 2018, while the duke and duchess were living at Kensington Palace after their marriage in May of that year.
A leaked email sent from a staff member, which was published by the newspaper, alleges that Meghan Markle drove two personal assistants out of the household. The report claims the duchess undermined the confidence of a third member of staff.
In a statement later, Buckingham Palace – which is responsible for the hiring of royal staff – said it was “clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times” and its HR team would look into the circumstances outlined in the article.
The statement said: “The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”
Past and present royal employees are to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan Markle as part of the investigation.
The bullying allegations are denied by Meghan and Prince Harry.
A statement issued by Meghan Markle’s spokesman in response to the newspaper’s story said: “The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.
“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”
Meghan and Prince Harry’s TV interview with Oprah will be aired on CBS in the US on the evening of Sunday, March 7.
CBS has said Meghan will be interviewed about “stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood” and “how she is handling life under intense public pressure”.
Anti-harassment speeches and powerful statements of unity have dominated this year’s Golden Globe awards.
It was the first major Hollywood awards ceremony since the film industry was hit by harassment scandals, with stars wearing black to honor victims.
Oprah Winfrey summed up the mood, saying “a new day is on the horizon” as she collected an honorary award at the 75th edition of Golden Globes.
The big winner of the night was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which took home four awards.
It won the best film drama award, with its star Frances McDormand also picking up a trophy for best actress.
Frances McDormand stars as a grieving mother who challenges police over the fact her daughter’s killer has not been found.
Big Little Lies won the most awards in the TV categories, including honors for its stars Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgard. It was also named best limited TV series.
Nicole Kidman won the first award of the night for her role as a victim of domestic violence.
She dedicated her win to her castmates, daughters and mother, saying: “Wow, the power of women.”
The Golden Globes are organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and are seen as an indicator of which films are likely to do well at the Oscars, which take place on March 4.
The main focus on the night was on the current atmosphere in Hollywood and campaigns like Me Too and Time’s Up, which are focused on bringing about change for women not only in the entertainment industry but also around the world.
Many winners and presenters at the Beverly Hills ceremony addressed the ongoing scandal – with host Seth Meyers setting the tone with his opening monologue.
It was Oprah whose speech had the biggest reaction, with stars applauding and rising to their feet.
Speaking as she was awarded the honorary Cecil B. DeMille trophy – the first black woman to get the honor – Oprah Winfrey said: “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.
“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!”
The theme was echoed by Laura Dern, winner of a best supporting actress for Big Little Lies, who said: “Many of us were taught not to tattle.
“It was a culture of silencing, and that was normalized… May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star.”
Barbra Streisand used her presenting slot to express outrage that she remains the only woman to win the best director award at the ceremony – and that was back in 1984.
She said: “Folks, time’s up. We need more women directors and more women to be nominated for best director.”
Oprah Winfrey will be the next recipient of the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille award at the 2018 Golden Globes ceremony.
Golden Globes head Meher Tatna announced: “For generations, Oprah has celebrated strong female characters on and off screen, and has been a role model for women and young girls for decades.”
Oprah’s honor was announced by actor Morgan Freeman – who won the same prize in 2012.
The TV star will receive her award at January’s Golden Globes awards.
They are voted for by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HPFA).
The Oprah Winfrey Show was one of the most-watched programs in US history.
Meher Tatna described Oprah as “one of the most influential women of our time”.
The prize is presented annually at the Golden Globes ceremony, recognizing “a talented individual who has made an incredible impact on the world of entertainment”.
Meher Tatna described Oprah as a “global media leader, philanthropist, producer and actress”, adding: “She has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today.”
Previous Cecil B. DeMille award winners include last year’s recipient, Meryl Streep, along with Audrey Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Harrison Ford, Sidney Poitier and Martin Scorsese.
Along with her famous chat show, Oprah has also enjoyed a career as an actress, including an Oscar-nominated role in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, in 1986.
She also starred in The Butler and Selma, which she produced.
Oprah Winfrey is also well-known for her charity work – this year marks the 10th anniversary of The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
In her last TV interview before the family leaves the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama said America’s outlook had changed since Donald Trump won November’s election.
Speaking on Oprah Winfrey’s show, Michelle Obama said: “Now we’re feeling what not having hope feels like.”
President Barack Obama repeatedly used messages of hope in his presidential campaigns and during his time in office.
Michelle Obama played an unusually prominent role in the 2016 election cycle, throwing her support behind Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and trading barbs with Donald Trump.
The first lady called on women to rise up against Donald Trump over his groping comments and denounced his campaign’s “hateful language”.
Photo Getty Images
In turn, Donald Trump accused Michelle Obama of spending too much time campaigning for Hillary Clinton.
Michelle Obama does not mention the president-elect by name in the preview clip of the Oprah Winfrey interview, to be aired by the CBS network on December 19.
However, she repeats previous assertions that the US needs “an adult” in the White House, saying the country’s president should provide stability and inspiration.
Michelle Obama says: “Having a grown-up in the White House who can say to you in times of crisis, <<Hey it’s going to be ok, let’s remember the good things we have, let’s look at the future, let’s look at all the things that we’re building>>…
“All of this is important for our kids to stay focused and to feel like their work isn’t in vain, that their lives aren’t in vain. What do we do if we don’t have hope?”
The first lady says she believes the American public will come to appreciate President Barack Obama’s impact with time.
Michelle Obama is an unusually popular figure in America’s political landscape, with a favorability rating, measured by Gallup at 64%, that is significantly higher than that of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2007 but failed to do so publicly in 2012.
In November, Oprah Winfrey urged voters to choose Hillary Clinton in November’s poll, saying: “You don’t have to like her… Do you like democracy or do you want a demagogue?”
All of us are already familiar with the life of certain celebrities who decided to skip college and commit to a career that eventually made them famous. Some of these examples are Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, etc. This, of course, does not mean that after reading this text you should rush to leave your university. On the contrary, these are just tips that can be helpful in whatever life cycle you currently are.
Follow your dream
You got into a certain college because that move was expected of you or you simply thought that you can find happiness in doing a certain profession. If you happen to realize that this college and future job are not for you, you can always take a step back. This is the time to clearly analyze the situation as well as your own wishes and preferences. Focus on something that fulfils you. By doing so, you can find a completely new career that would suit you the best and change colleges. In case you’re still not ready to choose and accept that you need and deserve some more time, it’s perfectly fine to dedicate yourself to a hobby and redirect your talents to whatever feels comfortable even if it doesn’t seem profitable in the beginning.
Listen to your inner voice
Be persistent even when your immediate surroundings aren’t. Nobody got rich overnight. Work hard to achieve the goal you want. This clearly defined goal can be your secret strength and power when your enthusiasm fails you or when negative thoughts such as finding no perspective in what you do occupy your mind. If you feel it right in your gut, you’ve definitely made a right choice.
Believe in yourself
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and use them both to your advantage. Believing in yourself doesn’t mean that you have to negate your whole personality to make room for positive traits only. Actually, if you’re aware of your weaknesses you can make an effort to overcome them and be wary of them. Also, don’t be modest with your personal virtues. Use everything you’ve got as an advantage over the competition.
Improve yourself constantly
No one is born with the entire world’s knowledge. Just because you’ve decided that sitting in the university lectures is not for you doesn’t mean that you should give up studying. Quite the opposite. Take up a course in the area of your personal interest. That way you can meet like-minded people who can help and direct you. Also, this is a much faster way to obtain a certificate which can serve as a springboard for your future career advancement.
Do not waste time on insignificant details
You must have noticed that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg always dress the same. They decided that spending time picking clothes is only going to waste when they can use this time wisely and do something constructive at their job. If you have your own small business do both of you a favor – wear branded promotional T-shirts that you use as a promotional gift. That way you won’t have to worry about your outfit and will do some smart advertising at the same time. Be practical and don’t let little things distract you from the desired goal.
Learn to listen to your needs. If you feel constrained and stressed dare to take a step out of the comfort zone. No one knows better than you what you need at any given time. Be brave and bold. If you don’t try to move, you increase the risk of depression. Do what it takes to get up in the morning with a big smile and in good spirits. Change yourself and your environment in a positive way and be an example to others that anything is possible.
Director Lee Daniels has confirmed Mike Epps will play comedian Richard Pryor in his forthcoming biopic.
Lee Daniels broke the news via Twitter by posting a picture of himself with Mike Epps and Oprah Winfrey at a script reading.
Oprah Winfrey, who Lee Daniels directed in The Butler, will play Richard Pryor’s grandmother.
Mike Epps, who has acted in The Hangover and Resident Evil, also posted a photo of himself kissing the ring of Richard Pryor’s widow Jennifer Lee, for “the blessing”.
Several other stars, including America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon, Michael B. Jordan and Marlon Wayans, were reported to have been in talks to play Richard Pryor in the film.
Mike Epps will play comedian Richard Pryor in his forthcoming biopic
Richard Pryor is widely regarded as one of America’s most influential comedians.
Before Richard Pryor’s death from a heart attack in December 2005 at the age of 65, both he and his wife had earmarked Mike Epps to play him in a film that they would have produced.
The comedian had suffered from multiple sclerosis for many years prior to his death.
Mike Epps, who called Richard Pryor “the wizard of comedy”, has since played him in 2013’s still-to-be-released biopic Nina, starring Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone.
Oprah Winfrey also took to social media to announce the casting, posting a picture on Instagram and Twitter.
Using the hashtag #RichardPryorMovie, Oprah Winfrey wrote that she, Lee Daniels and Mike Epps had “just finished a great 1st read session”.
Oprah Winfrey will play Richard Pryor’s grandmother Marie Carter, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Oprah Winfrey took to Instagram on August 7 to share a picture of herself enjoying a seafood dinner with her longtime partner Stedman Graham at Captain James Landing in Baltimore.
“Crab feast in Baltimore! #CaptainJames,” Oprah Winfrey, 60, captioned the photo, which shows the former talk show host and Stedman Graham, 63, each holding up crabs and smiling on their date.
Oprah Winfrey enjoying a seafood dinner with her longtime partner Stedman Graham at Captain James Landing in Baltimore (photo Instagram)
Oprah Winfrey has been channeling her inner foodie while promoting The Hundred-Foot Journey, the new film she produced with Steven Spielberg starring Helen Mirren.
In a Facebook Q&A, Oprah Winfrey opened up about bonding with her partner of 28 years over meals.
“I cook for Stedman all the time,” Oprah Winfrey shared with her fans on August 4.
“Stedman is a delight to cook for because it doesn’t matter what it is…he’s always excited.”
Matthew Sandusky, the adopted son of imprisoned former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, speaks out about his ordeal in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Matt Sandusky’s first public interview will air on July 17 when he will answer questions from Oprah Winfrey on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) at 9 p.m. ET, Huffington Post reported.
Matt Sandusky’s first public interview will air on July 17 when he will answer questions from Oprah Winfrey on the OWN (photo OWN)
In the interview, Matthew Sandusky – currently married and a father himself – will describe the ordeal he endured while being raised by Jerry and Dottie Sandusky.
According to the publication, Matthew Sandusky will respond to Dottie Sandusky’s accusations against her husband’s victims and share details on Jerry Sandusky’s nightly ritual. He is one of six children Jerry and Dottie Sandusky adopted.
Jerry Sandusky was convicted in June 2012 on 45 counts of child abuse, found guilty of raping or fondling 10 boys he had met through the acclaimed youth charity he founded, The Second Mile.
Pharrell Williams’ emotional speech at the inaugural iHeartRadio Music Awards came two weeks after a clip of him crying on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show became a viral hit.
Pharrell Williams crying on Oprah Winfrey’s show (photo OWN)
During the interview, Oprah Winfrey showed Pharrell Williams a montage of fans from Africa, the Philippines, Iceland and many more, all singing Happy, the singer’s Oscar-nominated, gospel-tinged, feel-good anthem.
Brushing away tears, Pharrell Williams said the response to the song had been “overwhelming”.
Oprah Winfrey was among the stars praising Pharrell Williams’ contributions to music at Thursday’s ceremony, alongside Lady Gaga, Usher and Shakira.
Pharrell Williams was teary-eyed as he accepted the Innovator award at the inaugural iHeartRadio awards in Los Angeles.
Pharrell Williams, whose single Happy has become an international sensation, was lost for words for over a minute as Gwen Stefani presented him with the trophy.
“I never dreamt in a million, million, million years… that I would be standing here,” he eventually said.
Rihanna also took home four prizes, including artist and song of the year.
Pharrell Williams was teary-eyed as he accepted the Innovator award at the inaugural iHeartRadio awards in Los Angeles (photo Facebook)
Rihanna, who got stuck in traffic en route to the show, also won an award for having the most loyal fans.
She dedicated the award to her followers, and thanked them for embracing her, flaws and all.
“It’s not easy, what we do. It’s very difficult at times,” she said.
“I never felt comfortable being anything other than myself.”
Performers at the show included Ed Sheeran, Arcade Fire, Bastille, 30 Seconds to Mars and Shakira.
Usher also took to the stage, leading a dance routine set to a never-before-heard Michael Jackson track, Love Never Felt So Good.
Owned by media company Clear Channel, iHeartRadio is one of the dominant internet radio brands in the US.
Thursday’s awards show was broadcast by over 150 iHeart radio stations across the US, and 60 million votes were cast by listeners in the run-up to the ceremony.
Pharrell Williams, 41, performed a 10-minute medley of his songs at the show, including Happy, Come Get It Bae and his bestselling-collaboration with Daft Punk, Get Lucky.
The artist, who began his career producing songs for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Jay Z and Kelis, said he had never expected to become an artist in his own right.
“All I did was write the songs and you guys did all the heavy lifting, all the hard work,” he told the audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Pharrell Williams’ emotional speech came shortly after a clip of him crying on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show became a viral hit.
During the interview, Oprah Winfrey showed Pharrell Williams a montage of fans from Africa, the Philippines, Iceland and many more, all singing Happy, his Oscar-nominated, gospel-tinged, feel-good anthem.
Oprah Winfrey shared her first selfie with fans from the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards.
“My first selfie,” Oprah Winfrey, 60, tweeted.
“Love @idriselba! #imageawards.”
Oprah Winfrey is flanked in the picture by Idris Elba, who inches into the frame from behind, and gives the camera a cool stare-down.
Oprah Winfrey shared her first selfie with fans from the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards
“Did I just photo bomb Oprah???” Idris Elba, 41, tweeted along with Oprah Winfrey’s original picture.
An eyewitness at the event told Us Weekly that photographers erupted into a state of frenzy once the media mogul arrived on the red carpet.
Although Oprah Winfrey ultimately lost in the Best Supporting Actress category at the Pasadena, California awards show to Lupita Nyong’o, the 12 Years a Slave breakout star credited Winfrey for impacting her career.
Oprah Winfrey is in talks to make her Broadway debut in a revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play ‘Night, Mother, the New York Times reported.
George C. Wolfe is expected to direct the production, which will star fellow Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as a mother desperate to prevent her daughter from killing herself.
Scott Sanders is among the producers, who are reportedly aiming for the 2015-16 Broadway season.
‘Night, Mother is a 1983 play by Marsha Norman about a daughter, Jessie, and her mother, Thelma.
Oprah Winfrey is in talks to make her Broadway debut in a revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play ‘Night, Mother
Marsha Norman worked with Oprah Winfrey and Scott Sanders as the book writer on The Color Purple.
“Oprah has had a longstanding desire to act on Broadway,” Scott Sanders told the New York Times.
“She understands how unique and challenging performing live on stage will be as an actress. She and I have been looking at a number of plays and roles in order to find material and a character that truly resonate with her. We’ve recently read something that we’re both excited about but are not yet ready to officially announce the specifics.”
Oprah Winfrey and Audra McDonald are believed to have participated in a reading of ‘Night, Mother last year with George C. Wolfe at Scott Sanders’ apartment.
Oprah Winfrey is currently working with Scott Sanders on a stripped-down Broadway revival of the musical The Color Purple, having previously teamed to produce the original Color Purple production in Broadway in 2005.
In a recent interview, Oprah Winfrey – who is playing a White House butler’s wife in Lee Daniels-helmed The Butler – has said she feels the time is finally right for audiences to embrace films that tackle slavery and civil rights.
Oprah Winfrey, 59, told BBC she was “so happy” a number of new titles cover the topics.
She revealed one of these movies, 12 Years a Slave, moved her to tears during the interview.
Oprah Winfrey has a starring role in The Butler, which recounts the life of an African American man who grows up on a cotton plantation.
Oprah Winfrey is playing a White House butler’s wife in Lee Daniels-helmed The Butler
Cecil Gaines (played by Forest Whitaker) goes on to witness the Civil Rights struggle as he serves under a succession of US presidents.
Oprah Winfrey takes the role of his wife Gloria.
“I think everything has its time and I’m so happy for this time,” she said.
“The fact that all of them are happening this year is really, really exciting.”
“People are ready to hear it,” Oprah Winfrey added, recalling that her 1998 film Beloved, which also addressed America’s slave-owning past, was met with a cool reception – including from African American journalists.
Oprah Winfrey became visibly emotional during the interview when referring to harrowing scenes in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.
She also feels The Butler has an important role.
Oprah Winfrey said she had been lucky to be born in 1954 and never to have attended a racially segregated school in her native Mississippi.
Oprah Winfrey recalled an incident where Republican congressman Joe Wilson disrespected Barack Obama by crying out “you lie” while the president was giving a speech to the Congress.
The 59-year-old talk show queen, who will be seen playing a White House butler’s wife in Lee Daniels-helmed The Butler, recalled the 2009 incident during a recent interview with BBC.
“Remember that?” she said.
Oprah Winfrey asserted that there is no doubt in her mind that President Barack Obama had to face some criticism because of his ethnicity
“I think there’s a level of disrespect for the office that occurs.
“And that occurs in some cases, and maybe even many cases, because he’s African American. There’s no question about that. And it’s the kind of thing no one ever says, but everybody’s thinking it.”
Oprah Winfrey asserted that there is no doubt in her mind that President Barack Obama had to face some criticism because of his ethnicity.
As the holiday season is coming, Oprah Winfrey reveals her “Most Favorite Things” list for 2013.
This year, Oprah Winfrey shares the amazing O, The Oprah Magazine December cover with one of her most favorite things – comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Jimmy Kimmel, who is dressed like an elf, dutifully goes to work on the 15 ft. train of Oprah Winfrey’s stunning White by Vera Wang gown exclusively for David’s Bridal. The incredible red, rosette gown took 10 people to make for a total of 100 hours of work, and weighs a whopping 25 pounds.
Oprah Winfrey reveals her “Most Favorite Things” list for 2013
As for the items on this year’s coveted list, Oprah Winfrey’s picks range from a $500 Truffle Risotto gift box curated by Per Se chef Thomas Keller – which she plans to give to Rita Wilson this year – to Modern House Red Wine bottles which retail for only $13 each and are available at Target. Notable tech gadgets on the list include the Kindle Paperwhite ($119), Beats Studio Headphones ($300) and a Qook Touch Kitchen Tablet that already comes pre-loaded with 1,000 recipes searchable by ingredient, with videos that show readers exactly how the food is supposed to look.
Other standout items that women will undoubtedly want their hands on this year include an $85 Butter London nail polish set, a $225 Nest Fragrances Holiday Candle which according to her BFF Gayle, “smells just like Christmas,” and a $136 set of Pickwick & Weller T-shirts co-designed by Ashton Kutcher.
Despite the pricey nature of some of the items on this list, Oprah Winfrey stresses that holiday gift-giving is never about the price.
This year, 12 readers will get to take home all of the items on Oprah’s Most Favorite Things list through her 12-Day Holiday Give-O-Way sweepstakes.
Click here to see all 60 of Oprah’s Most Favorite Things for 2013.
Oprah Winfrey was in mid-sentence during her interview with Chicago-based TV station WGN’s Morning News show on Tuesday, when the call was abruptly disconnected.
Oprah Winfrey, 59, was the first guest on the new expanded hour of the show to discuss her role in the recently released film Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
The talk show maven was telling the four anchors about her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) lineup that evening, when a woman’s voice was heard saying “transfer” followed by a dial tone.
The anchors collectively cried out in dismay when they realized they had in effect hung up on the star, and immediately started voicing their frustration while on the air.
“This is so typical,” WGN anchor Robin Baumgarten said.
“How do we cut off the one guest we’ve had that people might be interested in watching?”
Oprah Winfrey was in mid-sentence during her interview with WGN’s Morning News show, when the call was abruptly disconnected
“We are such a pack of morons,” she continued, scrumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it at the camera.
After a pause, Oprah Winfrey actually called the station back, according to the show’s Twitter page.
“Ok, you all have a few kinks to work out,” said Oprah Winfrey, confirming the problem wasn’t on her end.
“It definitely wasn’t me.”
“I’m just sitting here on the phone talking and all of a sudden music comes in and I’m like, <<Okay, I guess that’s my cue>>,” Oprah Winfrey said.
“It’s like you’re standing at an award show and the music starts. Oh, okay, that’s my cue to shut up.”
Oprah Winfrey sounded unimpressed as she briskly wrapped up the conversation.
“She was ticked,” said a male anchor after the second call.
“We were having a connection and you bozos screwed it up,” said anchor Robin Baumgarten, referring to her male co-hosts.
WGN later tweeted about the incident, calling it the “biggest goof since the #BridgeFail”, another of the station’s famous gaffes.
Madonna was the world’s top-earning celebrity over the past year, trumping the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.
Madonna, 55, made an estimated $125 million thanks to her MDNA tour, clothing and fragrance lines, according to Forbes Top-Earning Celebrities List 2013.
The magazine said it was the most money Madonna had made in a single year since it began tracking earnings in 1999.
Director Steven Spielberg was at number two with $100 million.
Madonna was the world’s top-earning celebrity over the past year, trumping the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg
Most of his earnings came from his back catalogue of film hits such as ET and Jurassic Park – which has just been released in 3D to mark its 20th anniversary – as well as last year’s Oscar winning Lincoln.
Steven Spielberg also takes a cut of all ticket sales at Universal Studios theme parks.
Third place was a three-way tie between 50 Shades of Grey author EL James, Simon Cowell and shock jock Howard Stern, with earnings of $95 million.
Thriller writer James Patterson follows with $91 million, while TV and radio host Glenn Beck earned $90 million.
Others in the top 10 included Transformers director Michael Bay ($82 million) producer Jerry Bruckheimer ($80 million) and pop star Lady Gaga ($80 million).
Forbes compiles its annual list of celebrity earnings using input from agents, managers, producers and others to calculate its estimates for each celebrity’s entertainment-related earnings.
The figures do not reflect tax deductions, agent fees or “the other expenses of being a celebrity”.
The Butler, a star-studded drama inspired by African-American Eugene Allen who served as a White House butler to eight presidents, was the top draw at North American cinemas this weekend.
Lee Daniels’ new movie, which stars Forest Whitaker, took an estimated $25 million in the US and Canada between Friday and Sunday.
“We did not expect it to do this well,” said a spokesman for its distributor.
In contrast, comic book sequel Kick-Ass 2 could only manage fourth place with a first weekend haul of $13.5 million.
That was less than the $19.8 million its predecessor made in its first weekend in the US and Canada in April 2010.
Kick-Ass 2‘s takings were swelled, however, by the $6.3 million it made in ticket sales outside North America.
According to The Weinstein Company’s Erik Lomis, the involvement of Oprah Winfrey was “a significant factor” in The Butler‘s success.
“Her publicity machine really kicked into high gear,” he said of the talk show queen, whose appearance as Forest Whitaker’s wife marks her first starring role since 1998’s Beloved.
“An Oprah Winfrey endorsement virtually guarantees you a hit,” agreed Paul Dergarabedian of box office analysts Hollywood.com.
The Butler was the top draw at North American cinemas this weekend
According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Butler appealed strongly to black church-goers, a demographic specifically courted in its promotional materials.
Starring Forest Whitaker as the fictional manservant Cecil Gaines, Lee Daniels’ The Butler co-stars Robin Williams, John Cusack, Mariah Carey and Jane Fonda.
The film’s slightly tortuous nomenclature came about after the Weinstein Company lost a legal battle with Warner Brothers over the right to use the title The Butler.
Warner Bros comedy We’re the Millers held onto second place in this week’s chart, making $17.8 million in its second week in US and Canadian cinemas.
Last week’s top film, Matt Damon’s sci-fi thriller Elysium, dropped to third place after making an estimated $13.6 million between Friday and Sunday.
Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher as the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, was the third new entry in this week’s Top 10, claiming seventh place with a first weekend tally of $6.7 million.
That was almost twice as much made by Paranoia, a corporate espionage thriller starring Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford that made its debut in 13th spot with a $3.5 million haul.
The Butler, which is based on the story of long-time White House butler Eugene Allen, hit theaters on Friday.
It’s not surprising that some broad creative license was taken with Eugene Allen’s life.
However, some of the most remarkable episodes are true.
Eugene Allen spent 34 years in the White House watching as eight presidents filed in and out and witnessing the country change from within the walls that were changing it.
The Butler is based on the story of long-time White House butler Eugene Allen
The life of Eugene Allen is the basis for Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which debuted in theaters this weekend. The film was inspired by a 2008 Washington Post story titled A Butler Well Served by This Election, which first brought Eugene Allen’s story to the mainstream: a butler who served every president from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan and weathered the worst of the country’s brutal racial history was about to see the first black president of the US sworn into office.
Eugene Allen was “a black man unknown to the headlines”, Will Haygood wrote in that Post article.
Now, however, Eugene Allen’s story is playing out on the big screen in an Oscar-baiting film with a sprawling cast including Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, Liev Schrieber, Oprah Winfrey, and, in the role inspired by Allen, Forest Whitaker.
In The Butler, Forest Whitaker’s Cecil Gaines is a slightly fictionalized version of Eugene Allen, one whose story – though very close to Allen’s own – plays better as the stylistic, sweeping melodrama the film sets out to be.
Lindsay Lohan has admitted to Oprah Winfrey that she is the one to blame for her troubles.
“I’m my own worst enemy, and I know that,” Lindsay Lohan actress said in a promotional video released Monday for her upcoming post-rehab one-on-one interview with Oprah.
The sneak peek from the highly anticipated interview airing on Sunday showed Oprah Winfrey, 59, back in her tabloid talk show element and peppering Lindsay Lohan, 27, with questions.
“Do you think you can turn it around?” Oprah Winfrey asked.
“What is it you’re addicted to?”
Lindsay Lohan has admitted to Oprah Winfrey that she is the one to blame for her troubles
Lindsay Lohan wore a conservative orange frock with her trademark red locks tied back into a high ponytail and considered Oprah Winfrey’s questions with a serious look on her face.
The trouble star and Oprah Winfrey sat opposite each other in white chairs with the chat host opting for a grey cardigan, white blouse and black pants.
The teaser video is the first time Lindsay Lohan has been seen addressing her addiction issues since her release from 90 days of court-ordered rehab.
Linsay Lohan left rehab at the end of July and quickly took on a guest-hosting stint on Chelsea Lately.
Oprah Winfrey’s television network OWN also has an eight-part docu-series planned that will chronicle Lindsay as she tries to rebuild her career and stay sober.
The reality TV show will air in 2014 and will be helmed by Amy Rice, who directed the 2009 documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama.
Lindsay Lohan’s latest movie The Canyons has been a disappointment at the box office, to say the least, raking in just $30,100 on its opening weekend.
Despite the weak numbers, it has been revealed that Lindsay Lohan was recently approached by actor-director Ben Affleck about starring in his next project.
The one-one-one interview between Oprah Winfrey and Lindsay Lohan will air on Oprah’s Next Chapter on Sunday, August 18, at 9 p.m.
Oprah Winfrey has said she is sorry for a “blown up” media response after she claimed she encountered racism in upmarket Trois Pommes handbag store in Zurich.
Oprah Winfrey’s racism claims were made amid a political row in Switzerland over asylum seekers’ rights
Speaking on the red carpet premiere for her new film, The Butler, Oprah Winfrey said: “I think that incident in Switzerland was just an incident in Switzerland.”
“I’m really sorry that it got blown up. I purposefully did not mention the name of the store. I’m sorry that I said it was Switzerland,” she added.
Oprah Winfrey’s claims were made amid a political row in Switzerland over asylum seekers’ rights.
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