Oprah Winfrey is facing major backlash from royal fans after she revealed her reason for clarifying whether Meghan Markle was “silent” or “silenced” by the Firm in her 2021 interview.
Five years ago, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with the talk show host for their first interview since stepping back as senior royal duties and relocating to the United States in 2020.
The couple discussed a number of controversial topics, including the pair’s mental health struggles, rumours of a rift between Markle and Princess Catherine and an unnamed royal’s concerns over the colour of their then-unborn child’s skin.
At one point in the conversation, the Duchess admitted that she had always been “outspoken, especially about women’s rights” but, after four years with the Firm, felt that she couldn’t use her voice.
Winfrey, in response, then asked the royal if she had been “silent” or “silenced”, a question which prompted Markle to confirm that she had been barred from speaking freely about her struggles.
Now, Winfrey has reflected on some of her most memorable interview moments over the years – including the controversial sit-down with the Sussexes – for Vanity Fair’s Scene Selection programme.
Winfrey seemingly defended her decision to ask the question, claiming that “it was all for clarification”.
Noting her hand gesture during the now-viral moment, she said: “I don’t think I’ve done it since. I don’t know where the hell that came from.”
“I wanted to be clear because, ‘Was she silenced? Were people telling her not to talk?’ That’s why I said that. I said it for clarification because I didn’t want later to hear, ‘Well, no, it wasn’t that. It really was that I was silenced. They wouldn’t let me talk.’ So it was all for clarification.”
The moment has seen royal fans turn to X – formerly Twitter – to criticise the TV mogul, accusing her of distancing herself from the viral moment and even backtracking on the interview.
“Oh, Oprah… you don’t get to rewrite history five years later,” one person wrote, going on to accuse the TV star of not “fact-checking” and giving “zero pushback” to the Sussexes’ claims.
Another accused Winfrey and the Sussexes’ PR of “trying to backpedal with trying to rewrite the history on this interview,” adding: “Sorry can’t let that happen.”
“Five years later, Oprah is still trying to distance herself from the dastardly duo,” a third penned.
Others questioned why Winfrey decided to “clarify” whether Markle was silent or silenced, but didn’t clarify any other claims made by the royal and her husband.
“Oprah tries to clarify her stance regarding the Meghan and Harry interview that caused so much damage to the royal family by making people believe that HRH Charles and Kate were racists. At that moment, there was no questioning of such a grave suggestion.”