Oprah Winfrey Under Fire As Old Clips Resurface Showing How She Treated Black Guests On Her Show
Media Take Out has learned that Oprah Winfrey is facing a major wave of backlash online after a series of resurfaced videos from the 1990s show her allegedly disrespecting Black celebrities and downplaying Black culture during her talk show’s peak.
Social media has been flooded with old footage of the media mogul — once hailed as “America’s therapist” — conducting interviews that many viewers now see as condescending, dismissive, and even exploitative toward her Black guests.
The Toni Braxton Interview That Sparked It All
The controversy reignited after a clip went viral showing Toni Braxton recounting her infamous 1998 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Toni, who was struggling with bankruptcy at the time, says Oprah spoke to her “like a child” and appeared to relish in her financial downfall.
In the old footage, Oprah pressed Toni about her money management and spending habits — even questioning her decision to buy designer handbags — in front of a live audience. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) called the segment “humiliating” and “cruel,” accusing Oprah of trying to make a spectacle out of another Black woman’s pain.
“Oprah acted like she was the IRS, not a talk show host,” one user posted. “She embarrassed Toni just to get laughs from her White audience.”
“No Rappers Allowed” Policy Exposed
The backlash grew even stronger after another user resurfaced claims that Oprah had a ‘no rappers’ policy on her show throughout the 1990s and early 2000s — a time when hip hop was exploding into the mainstream.
Rappers like 50 Cent, Ice Cube, and even Ludacris have publicly accused Oprah of refusing to platform hip hop artists because she viewed rap culture as too “negative.”
Jay Z himself was never invited to Oprah’s show until after his marriage to Beyoncé, one of the most universally beloved pop stars in the world. Fans now say Oprah’s selective approach to Black guests reveals a pattern — one designed to keep her in good standing with White audiences while keeping her distance from Black culture’s rougher edges.
Mo’Nique Still Has Smoke for Oprah
Of course, Mo’Nique has long been Oprah’s most outspoken critic. The Oscar-winning actress has repeatedly accused Oprah, along with Tyler Perry and Lee Daniels, of blackballing her after she refused to “play the game” during the press run for Precious.
Mo’Nique claims Oprah went behind her back, allegedly using her influence to damage her career — all because she wouldn’t “bow down” to Oprah’s power.
Now, as these old clips resurface, many fans are saying Mo’Nique might have been right all along.
The Internet Verdict
While Oprah has not responded to the growing criticism, the public mood is shifting. A generation that grew up idolizing her is now revisiting her legacy with fresh eyes — and many don’t like what they see.
One viral comment summed it up: “Oprah didn’t build her empire off empowering Black people — she built it off pleasing White audiences at the expense of Black guests.”
For years, Oprah has been untouchable. But as social media continues to unearth these clips, the conversation about her complicated relationship with the Black community is just getting started.