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Oprah slammed for White privilege remarks, Internet asks how did you make $2.6 billion if America is so racist?

The philanthropist was at the receiving end of angry Twitter users because of her comments about 'White privilege' on her show 'The Oprah Conversation'

Celebrities speaking on socially relevant issues are always welcomed. However, sometimes their opinions can also land them in trouble if the internet thinks it’s not genuine or accurate. Something similar happened to media mogul and billionaire Oprah Winfrey. According to a report in Breit Bart, in an episode titled ‘Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: Part 1’, which features former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho and other guests including several White guests, Winfrey praised the latter participants for accepting that they were "racists". The episode is named after Acho’s eponymous YouTube series and is part of The Oprah Conversation series on Apple TV+. According to the report, Winfrey wanted to discuss ‘racism’, ‘White privilege’ and ‘Whiteness’ during the episode.

The report quotes her saying, "There are White people who are not as powerful as the system of White people — the caste system that’s been put in place — but they still, no matter where they are on the rung, or the ladder of success, they still have their Whiteness." She is further quoted as saying, "(Whites have a) leg up. You still have your Whiteness. That’s what the term 'White privilege' is. It means that Whiteness still gives you an advantage, no matter." On the other hand, Acho went on to claim that America is run by Whites. He is quoted as saying, "As a Black person, White people — the proverbial phrase of White people — they run America, CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, execs, ownership," Acho stated. "They run America. Not an individual White person, but collective White people."

According to a Forbes report, Winfrey’s current net worth is about $2.6B. And the fact that a billionaire is talking about 'White privilege' didn’t quite sit well with Twitter users. One retorted, "Oprah is worth more money than 99% of white people in this country but she has the audacity to talk about 'whiteness gives you an advantage'." 

American columnist Todd Starnes mocked, "I pray for the day that America becomes a nation where someone like Oprah will be able to become a billionaire."

Another user JT Lewis asked, "How did Oprah make 2.6 billion dollars if America is so racist?"

Another sarcastic comment read: "Billionaire Oprah is now shaming white people for all their 'easy success' in life."

One stated, "Oprah made her billions on the 'whiteness' middle class women. I woke up this morning white still not a billionaire. Oprah still a billionaire from me watching her program decades ago. She revealed her racism against the color of my skin."

Another concurred, "@Oprah that privilege you speak of is false and you know it. You made your billions off 'White privileged' middle class women so take your fake eyelashes & go try and buy another $38,000 Hermes purse & quit inspiring racial divide."

Another guest on the show, Seth, as reported by Breit Bart, a self-described Jewish man from Manhattan, spoke about his “awakening” to his own “racist” self. Oprah said, "You’ve become ‘woke’ during this period, and realized in that awakening that you are racist, right? I just want to know how that happened." Seth replied, "I was born in the '70s. I was born and raised in Manhattan. I’ve always considered myself to be liberal. Now I’m not only a friend of people of color but also an advocate for (them), but this movement over the last month has been powerful." The gentleman claimed that he is a "racist" who is aspiring to become an "anti-racist", as the report suggests. "I realized that I couldn’t be not racist. I realized that I either was a racist or an anti-racist, and I wasn’t — I’m not — an anti-racist," said the guest.