Oprah Winfrey Fired from OWN? Talk Show Host Done With Obamas
Has Oprah Winfrey been fired from her OWN network? According to a report by the National Enquirer, the talk show queen has been fired from her own network, which is co-owned by Discovery Communication. OWN's ailing channel had brought in lower than expected ratings and it seems the executives are changing things around, including letting Oprah go.
An insider told the Enquirer that they realized that she was too inexperienced to run the network. "So she was stripped of her power," the insider said. "She's no longer in a position to make executive decisions or hire staff without consulting top Discovery executives first."
The source continued: "For Oprah, this is a bitter personal failure and a devastating blow to her ego. The unexpected demotion has sent her into an emotional tailspin so severe that friends are deeply concerned for her. They fear it could trigger one of her drinking and eating binges."
These reports have not been confirmed by OWN or the talk show host herself.
But aside from business, it seems Oprah is furious at Michelle Obama, who she once considered to be a close friend. Winfrey knew the Obamas way before the presidential election and had often met up to socialize, according to the Enquirer. Oprah had publicly endorsed Obama when he first decided to run for president, and even held a fund-raiser at her home. A source said Oprah felt entitled to special treatment when the Obamas got elected.
However, despite having been close in the past, Oprah was reportedly required to go through an assistant to be able to reach the first couple, which led to a reported feud between the talk show host and First Lady.
And most recently, Michelle's comment about how she feels about Beyonce in "Good Morning America" saying "I love her [Beyonce] to death" came across as a personal dig for Oprah. The insider told the publication: "Oprah was there for the Obamas when they were local politicians, and now that they've become A-list celebs, she feels that she's been pushed aside for Beyonce." Winfrey reportedly said she's "Done" with the Obamas.
