As a seasoned gamer with years of experience navigating the complex world of political rumors and scandals, I find myself both amused and somewhat skeptical regarding the recent Oprah Winfrey-Kamala Harris pay-for-endorsement saga.
Kamala Harris’ campaign advisers are, like Oprah Winfrey, dispelling rumors that started this week following a misleading report suggesting her vice presidential team had paid at least one celebrity for an endorsement and implied other stars who backed her short-lived presidential bid were compensated for their backing.
Speculation started circulating about suspected pay-for-endorsement claims, specifically involving Oprah and her endorsement of Harris, following a report in The Washington Times on Monday. This report drew attention to Federal Election Commission records showing $1 million going to Oprah’s Harpo Productions. According to the Times, this sum was part of approximately $20 million paid to media production companies for various events; the Times described the roles several of these companies played as unclear or vague.
Following Oprah’s unequivocal rejection of the allegation on Wednesday, representatives from the Harris team launched a defensive response, engaging with media outlets to clarify facts and educate the public about campaign finance laws, which explain the payments made to Harpo Entertainment and other production companies.
Adrienne Elrod, senior advisor and spokesperson for the Harris campaign, stated to Deadline that they don’t pay artists or performers directly. However, they do cover any additional expenses related to their performances, such as travel costs for musicians and equipment suppliers. She emphasized that they always abide by the laws regarding these matters and have done so diligently during this campaign.
On Friday, an email from The Hollywood Reporter didn’t receive a prompt response from the Harris campaign team.
As a gamer, I’ve got to follow the rules when it comes to political contributions in the U.S., even if I’m a big corporation like Harpo (or any other named in the Times). According to law, we can’t directly fund a candidate’s campaign. If there’s ever an instance where this happens, the campaign has to return the money back to us. This isn’t just about cold hard cash donations, but also covers production costs and any expenses related to events we might organize.
The article from the Times mentions that a $1 million check for the Harris campaign, as noted in FEC records, was sent to Harpo Productions on October 15th, which coincides with Oprah Winfrey hosting a large town hall event in support of Harris. In response to being questioned by TMZ earlier in the week, Oprah confirmed that her company produced this event, providing everything from lighting and production staff to furniture for seating, explaining why the payment was made around that time.
Winfrey stated that she didn’t receive a single penny for her efforts. She felt compelled to address this unfounded speculation before it spread further. During the live-streaming event in September, her company Harpo was requested to provide set design, lighting, cameras, crew, producers, and all other essential items (including the seats we sat on) to produce a live show. She herself didn’t ask for payment. However, those who worked on this production had to be compensated properly. That’s all there is to it.
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2024-11-16 01:26