Oprah Winfrey is responding to criticism over giving Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz their big breaks decades ago, and she’s not taking responsibility for the political paths they’ve since chosen.
In a new interview with Emmy Magazine, Winfrey explained that her decisions were based on what she felt they could contribute to her audience at the time.
She met him during a libel lawsuit in 1998 and was impressed by his practical, down-to-earth advice. “He would ride in the car with me every morning on the way to trial, where I’m literally sitting on trial for six weeks. I felt that he was so instrumental in helping me. I thought, ‘Oh, you could help a lot of people. You should come on my show.'”
Introduced by friend Gayle King, she was drawn to his ability to explain complex medical topics in simple terms. “He explained practical things like colon cancer and bowel movements. I thought he had the language for explaining medical things in a way that was helpful to me.”
Both men have since become prominent supporters of President Donald Trump. Dr. Oz currently leads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, while Dr. Phil serves on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission and has joined ICE raids.
