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Oprah Winfrey roasted for saying she'd still wear masks on planes: 'She only flies PRIVATE'

'I personally think it's too soon to be removing masks from planes. But that's what people choose to do' Oprah said on lifting the mask mandate

Several airlines have announced the dropping of mask mandates after US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, struck down the Biden policy on April 18. Oprah Winfrey criticized this ruling saying, 'it is too soon' to eliminate certain Covid-19 restrictions at this stage. She further stated, she would continue wearing a mask when using public transport, specifically inside planes. 

When discussing her new documentary 'The Color of Care', Oprah told the Los Angeles Times that she was so fearful of the intensity of the virus that she spent exactly 332 days inside her home when the pandemic was at its peak. She was quarantined in her $40 million mansion which is located in Santa Barbara, California.

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Oprah, the veteran talk show host told the Los Angeles Times, "I personally think it's too soon to be removing masks from planes. But that's what people choose to do. And if I were on a commercial plane, I would be one of the people who would still be wearing my mask." She added, "And I would be one of the people still wearing my masks in an enclosed building with people who I didn't know if they were or were not vaccinated. But that is just me. And I certainly accept that there are other people who disagree. I'm OK with that as long as I can wear mine."

Judge Mizelle's 59-page ruling suggested that, "non complying travelers are forcibly removed from their airplane seats, denied board at the bus steps, and turned away at the train station doors and akin to detention and quarantine' as reported by CNN.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has requested the Justice Department to appeal the ruling and reinstate the mandate as they have been a reported rise in the BA.2 Omicron variant cases. Over 990,000 Americans have been affected and lost lives from Covid-19 and there are more than 81 million active cases of the infection. 

Oprah said during this talk that she is aware and grateful for her privilege and fame and wealth that kept her going throughout the duration of the pandemic. She made the film that airs on Sunday, May 1 on the Smithsonian Channel. This film is inspired by the countless stores of the people of color who were affected by the pandemic and had no help due to racial inequities. The 68-year-old talk show host says she was appalled by learning that the Covid-19 deaths were close to a million. She said, "One of the reasons I read all of those stories is because I am appalled, I am stunned. I don’t recognize a country where you’ve lost nearly a million people and there hasn’t been some form of remembering that is significant."

When netizens heard what Oprah had to say, they shared their opinions on Twitter. One said, "Oprah to keep covering face after year-long isolation in $40M mansion, opposes ending mask mandate! As far as I’m concerned Oprah can stay hidden & wear a muzzle as long as she wants. Just leave the rest of us ALONE to live our lives & enjoy FREEDOM!"

One trolled her saying, "Wear your mask in your private plane & mansion if you’re scared. The rest of us want to LIVE & BREATHE!!". Another social media user said, "She is not a doctor or scientist and when was the last time she flew commercial? Oprah says she will continue to wear a mask inside planes."

One user questioned, "Awww… the girthy, grossly unappreciative racist thinks (with all of her medical training) that it’s too early to cease wearing masks on airplanes. When was the last time Oprah-and-a-half actually flew commercial?"