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OPRAH WINFREY YESTERDAY declared a “new day” for women and girls facing down abusive men as her powerful speech to the Golden Globe Awards stirred talk that she has a political future.
Within moments of the daytime television trailblazer’s remarks at the Hollywood gala, fans called for her to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020, although she has given no indication she is interested.
The 63-year-old Winfrey, whose former talk show ushered in an era of confessional television and helped make her a billionaire, delivered a forceful but tightly focused speech that brought together issues of gender, poverty and race as she accepted a lifetime achievement award.
She saluted the #MeToo movement that has quickly gained steam after revelations of rampant sexual misconduct by film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Paying tribute to Recy Taylor, an African-American woman who daringly reported her 1944 gang rape by six white men in Alabama and died last month just short of her 98th birthday, Winfrey deplored “a culture broken by brutally powerful men”.
“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up! Their time is up!” Winfrey said to a standing ovation and even some tears in the audience.
“So I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon,” Winfrey said.
“And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again,” she said.
Hailing role of media
Winfrey highlighted her own life rising up from a violence-scarred childhood. She recalled her awe as a girl watching television in Milwaukee when Sidney Poitier became the first black person to win the Oscar for best actor in 1964.
She also hailed the role of the media, so often maligned by Trump as “fake news”.
“It’s the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice,” she said.
“I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times.”
At the start of the Golden Globes, host Seth Meyers playfully encouraged Winfrey to run for president against Trump, who made history by winning despite never holding a previous political or military position.
Meyers had appeared at the now infamous 2011 White House Correspondents Association dinner where he and then president Barack Obama mocked the idea of Trump in the White House. The real estate mogul fumed in his seat.
“Some have said that night convinced him to run. So, if that’s true, I just want to say, Oprah, you will never be president. You do not have what it takes,” Meyers said, while also proposing actor Tom Hanks as a vice presidential candidate.
Fans see White House
For some of Winfrey’s fans, a presidential run didn’t seem far-fetched after her speech, with the topic quickly taking off on social media.
“As I sit here in tears…I have never ever seen such a speech,” the country singer Billy Gilman wrote on Twitter.
“@Oprah, my friend. Please run for President. This world needs more of THAT. WOW.”
Winfrey had generally stayed away from overt politics until the 2008 election when she campaigned vigorously for Obama in an endorsement credited with helping him secure the Democratic Party’s nomination.
The then governor of Illinois briefly considered Winfrey to replace Obama in the Senate, but she did not voice interest.
With her vast audience and quickly relatable style, Winfrey has long been considered one of America’s most influential celebrities.
Her show has helped raise discussion in the United States on issues ranging from gay rights to abusive puppy breeding mills, while her endorsement power is avidly sought by the publishing industry.
- © AFP 2018.
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Why did none of these powerful women speak up before? Winfrey holds real sway in the U.S?
@john Appleseed: because there was no platform, agenda and nothing to be gained . Now there is because of its media trend continuity.
The only losers here will be the actual victims of harassment and rape and lemme tell ya , they ain’t hangin out in Hollywood
@john Appleseed: Ophrah has spoken many times. You just weren’t listening.
@Deborah Behan:
She sure Did….. LOL
@TheJeff: haha I love the tinternet
@TheJeff: No dont believe it the picture has been photo shopped ????? Oprah Windbag with her silly little speech will change nothing . A couple of years ago at the Oscars it was about racism . Nothing ever changes in Hollywood
A Billionaire who Saw Nothing, Heard Nothing, Did Nothing… until a poor young french model risked it all & went to the Police… welcome to the ban Wagon, Oprah & Ladies..
She had a lifetime in the game to call out all involved. Wait till it comes out about all the nonce’s.
We have now moved to an era of reality style presidents
What has the US come to
@gjpb: It’s always been a joke.. Half of them think the earth is 6000 years FFS.
@gjpb: you can add the famous Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan to your list and The Kennedy’s weren’t a million miles behind.
Another great day for humanity as Hollywood celebrities again show us the light!
@kevin: no more abusing women for me. I’ve seen the error of my ways and I’m giving up. Do I get a medal or get to join some club?
@kevin: yeah the rest of humanity. A medal for not abusing women? Wow.
@Deborah Behan: I would suspect Kevin is being sarcastic here.
@Deborah Behan: wow Deborah. You liberal snowflakes really are a humour less lot. The catholic bishops in the 60s were more craic than you lot
@Marcus Maher: Jesus Marcus do you really need that to be clarified??? And it’s sarcasm not irony. You must be listening to Alanis morrisette too much
That’s all america needs is another celebrity in the White house. Instead of elections next time they should do a White house celebrity big brother with the winners prize been president of America.
@Seán Dillon: in the words of George Clinton, ‘Let’s paint the Whitehouse black’.
Literally the only person I’d be worried to run against Trump, I had a sneaky suspicion the Dems would either get Oprah or Michelle Obama to run.
#Trey Gowdy 2024
#Ben Shapiro 2032
@Aindreas Macliam: Gowdy is a long shot but Shapiro 2032 sounds good to me
@Dave O Keeffe: Ah Dave this one thing I thought me & you wouldn’t half agree on but fully agree on.
Look LOVE Shapiro, but he’s still plenty young, loads of time left in him, & he’s a amazing analyst but he’s gotta cut his teeth in a arena (don’t start on Trump Dave, exceptional blaggers are the exception to that rule)
But here I can kinda put me finger on it, but not quite either, something very special about Gowdy, vaguely think it’s his intellect+palpable integrity+ a certain southern charisma+ you kinda get the feeling like he’s born for it, knows it himself, but is genuinely reluctant of the office…even that doesn’t really nail it, dunno some other missing ingredient I can’t quite place.
Anyway watch out for Gowdy man, I’m convinced IF he ran & IF he won, it’d be like being alive during a genuine piece of history, like being around during the Kennedy/MLK/ Malcolm X years or something.
@Aindreas Macliam: #AltRightWetDreams
@KalEll: They’re both centre conservatives…so what you talked bout?
Winfrey is just a wind bag
Women had the opportunity to air their grievances in 2017 and boy did they make the most of it. Good luck to them but this is 2018. MOVE ON.
@Donal Hanley: you heard him ladies; no more complaining about being assaulted. It’s 2018 and time to move on or get used to it. Sure, arent you glad of the the attention.
@Donal Hanley: Move on?! I’m unaware of a time limit on fighting against assault, rape and violence.
@Jeanette McDonald:
I agree; Rape and assault should always result in JAIL for the perpetrator.
Minor touching of half naked broads reported years later – give me a break. The smell of compo goes to their heads.
What a fantastic woman Oprah is. Most successful broadcaster of all time and a woman with ideals and principles. In Ireland her career would probably have gone nowhere – air time for men mostly. A lot of women hating commenters on here.
@carodeer: they have to take down the billionaire woman somehow. Who else would protect their fragile masculinity?
@Deborah Behan: how did a woman become a billionaire considering the patriarchy is constantly against her?
Plus is there a gender pay gap considering she is paid far more than any of the men in her field?
@gjpb: Dude, your blowing my freaking mind right now, cut it out.
One word…BURN!
@gjpb: She had the balls to take on the patriarchy
@Let free speech live: exactly and she had the opportunity to do so. so stop whining that women cant do what they want
@gjpb: I’m not whining at all. I believe women can do anything but a lot of people think we need gender quotas which to me undermines the ability of women.
Opera Winfrey, the most influential, well known and richest person in the Hollywood or the USA is rolled out to tell us how great 2017 has been for oppressed women? Are you for real? Seemingly, the Harvey’s of this world have been abusing their power for years, in full knowledge of all in Hollywood, yet not once did the most influential person in Hollywood so anything but jumps on the bandwagon now after a guinea pig actress sets things in motion. A list stars in Hollywood should hang their head in shame and not pull the self righteous stunts they pulled last night. Dress in Black my arse. If you grew a pair or used your influence over the years this wouldn’t have gone this far. Disgusting.
Don’t know why anybody would listen to the perceived positive image enhancing views of the Hollywood elite. It is just another aspect of they increasing their international profile via publicity. Would you allow yourself to be lectured on politics etc by a soldier, a sailor, or a candlestick maker ? They are only actors ffs. They interpret other people’s lines. They have no right or qualification or special knowledge to lecture the rest.
Even when they do have special knowledge as with Meryl Streep (and everybody else) about Winestein’s actions they cover it up because it would rock the boat and potentially damage THEIR careers. This only changes when the conditions are right for them to further enhance their career/image by safely speaking out as with last night. The hypocracy is beyond belief. Anyone who takes them seriously needs therapy.
and of her senior advisor will be Eckhart Tolle it’ll be new day for both sexes lol
I hope she does run, fine looking woman and wise.
@Stephen murphy: “fine looking woman” what has her looks got to do with anything what a superficial comment
Love to see her run and get beaten by Trump. Oh the fun of watching the aftermath of that!
Feminist s hite again by the tich and famous.bolloxology.moving on.
I wonder will she employ Steve Bannon as her campaign manager when she throws her hat in the ring.
Fu*k you journal, you are becoming way to politically correct nothing can be said in the comments section without the pc police editing it or hiding it.
have your say