Did Oprah Winfrey ‘Pimp’ Young Girls to Convicted Sex Offender Harvey Weinstein?

No.

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After Oprah Winfrey’s March 7 interview with Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, an image went viral on Facebook alleging that Winfrey “pimped young Hollywood girls” to be “raped” by Hollywood mogul and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein.

The full text of the image, which shows Winfrey, Weinstein, and singer Rita Ora at a 2014 BAFTA after party, reads as follows: “I think now is an excellent time to remind everyone that Oprah Winfrey for years and years pimped young Hollywood girls to Harvey Weinstein to be raped.”

This is a false claim. 

This isn’t the first time Winfrey has been accused of sex trafficking. In March 2020, the Guardian reported that there were online rumors making reference to Winfrey’s friendship with Weinstein and claiming that Winfrey was arrested for sex trafficking after her Florida home was raided by the police. As these claims about her alleged arrest cropped up on social media, Winfrey took to Twitter to dispel the rumors, calling it an “awful fake thing.”

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  1. Avatar photo
    Anne W (Raw5254)

    What is wrong with people?!!! I’ll admit that I’ve lost my love for all things Oprah, but this is ridiculous, and yet people believe it. Sadly, a lot of these folks are older adults who should know better.

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  2. Avatar photo
    L L Cool A

    Before they kicked Q off twitter, I read a long thread on Oprah and sex trafficking. Their "proof" was Oprah's wearing a ring with a large red stone, similar to one Tom Hanks, Hillary and George Soros were photographed wearing. Crazy allegations with concocted evidence seem to be a hallmark of QAnon.

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    1. Chris Exantus

      It's the gameification of conspiracy theories. The idea that these figures are so powerful that they constantly escape justice, and yet are just dumb enough to constantly leave hints of their participation pretty much powers these idiots. It makes them feel smart when they "figure it out," and it's fun in a way in a similar manner it would be fun to solve a puzzle.

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  3. Avatar photo
    Frank Vergden

    What is the relevance of the Ava DuVernay tweet to the March 2020 context? It seems superfluous to me.

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    1. Midge

      Ava's tweet, "Trolls + bots began this disgusting rumor," means bots were involved. That's information not included in Oprah's original tweet.

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