Harris Campaign Paid Oprah's Company $2.5 Million

Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign reportedly paid $2.5 million to Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions for a September town hall event, significantly more than the initially estimated $1 million. Winfrey has publicly denied receiving any personal payment, stating that the funds were used to cover her team's costs for staging the event, including set design and crew. Despite the substantial spending, which is a fraction of Harris's $1.5 billion campaign budget, both the campaign and Winfrey assert that no personal fees were paid to Winfrey herself. The event featured several celebrity appearances, including Meryl Streep and Bryan Cranston, and showcased the Harris campaign's aggressive fundraising efforts. Critics have suggested that Winfrey, given her wealth, should have personally financed the production expenses rather than allowing her company to accept such payments. The controversy highlights the intersection of celebrity endorsements and political fundraising in the current campaign landscape.