Oprah Winfrey explains Donald Trump tweet following boycott threats
Syafique Shuib
November 15, 2016 16:56 MYT
November 15, 2016 16:56 MYT
Some Hollywood celebrities and netizens were not amused by a tweet posted by Oprah Winfrey on US President-elect Donald Trump. -AFP
FORMER talk show queen Oprah Winfrey finally broke her silence to explain a tweet she posted on US President-elect Donald Trump which received backlash from Hollywood celebrities and netizens.
In the November 10 tweet, she posted a photo of Trump meeting US President Barack Obama with the caption “Everybody take a deep breath” followed with the hashtag #HopeLives.
In an event she co-hosted in Los Angeles, Oprah told the crowd that the use of the term ‘everybody’ in the tweet was a mistake and she could not possibly represent the general public.
“My mistake, and this is what I know to be true: you can never talk about 'everybody.' Even in your arguments with your husband and your children. Don’t talk about what you should do, what you ought to do. You can only speak for yourself.
“So what I should have said was, ‘I just took a breath.’ What I said was, ‘Everybody take a breath – #HopeLives.’” she said.
The tweet drew criticisms from those not in favour of the recent US presidential results.
Trump was known for his sexist and racist remarks during the campaigning period.
Some netizens even threatened to boycott all businesses associated with Oprah, including her cable network OWN.