Washington has been abuzz as Democrats grapple with the spending of Vice President Kamala Harris' losing campaign. A new campaign finance report has now shed light on a significant aspect. It confirms that the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign indeed paid Oprah Winfrey's production company a substantial $1 million. This puts an end to the months-long controversy surrounding whether Winfrey was compensated for her endorsement.

Unraveling the Kamala Harris-O Oprah Winfrey Campaign Finance Ties

Oprah Winfrey's Role in the Harris Campaign

In November, rumors spread like wildfire that the Harris campaign had paid the former talk show host for her support. The Washington Times' story citing Federal Election Commission finance records showed that Harpo Productions received $1 million from Harris. However, when asked by paparazzi in mid-November, Winfrey firmly denied these allegations. She stated, "Not true. I was paid nothing, ever." But soon after, she clarified her stance. Commenting on a video of the exchange posted on Instagram, she explained that her company, Harpo Productions, was paid for its work in helping produce Harris' "Unite for America" livestream rally on September 19. This event, hosted in collaboration with the activist group Win with Black Women, featured major celebrities such as comedian Chris Rock, along with actors Ben Stiller, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, and Bryan Cranston. Its aim was to register people to vote in swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan - all of which Harris ultimately lost in the election. The company was tasked with providing set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew, and producers, among other items. Winfrey added that she did not receive a share of the money. She emphasized, "I did not take any personal fee. However, the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story."

The Payments to Harpo Productions

Campaign finance records published this week have confirmed that Harpo Productions received two $500,000 payments from the Harris campaign for its work on the September event. These payments were part of the millions of dollars Harris spent on major production firms and advertising agencies in her unsuccessful bid to win the 2024 presidential campaign. Harris also spent an additional $575,000 to run a 90-second ad on the outside of the Las Vegas Sphere before a rally she hosted before Election Day. The campaign spent millions more on television and digital advertisements throughout the election. Now, much of this spending is under intense scrutiny as Democrats assess Harris' loss and try to understand where her campaign went wrong in the 2024 election.