Howard Stern, the iconic radio host known for his brash commentary, recently
turned his attention to Oprah Winfrey, criticizing her for flaunting her wealth on
social media. During an episode of his SiriusXM show, Stern expressed discomfort
with Oprah’s ostentatious displays of her lavish lifestyle, particularly in a time when
many people are struggling financially. He remarked on how her social media posts
often feature her sprawling estates, lush gardens, and the staff who maintain her
luxurious lifestyle. Stern’s critique was not limited to her wealth but extended to
how she treats her employees, suggesting that her behavior reflects a lack of
self-awareness.

Stern’s comments ignited a heated debate, with some fans of Oprah defending her |
against what they saw as an unfair attack. Stems co-host, Robin Quivers, pushed |
back against his remarks, arguing that Oprah was simply offering a glimpse into her |
life rather than boasting about her wealth. However, Stern maintained his stance, |
emphasizing the need for celebrities like Oprah to be more mindful of the |
economic hardships faced by many people. He noted that, despite his own |
considerable wealth, he finds it difficult to watch Oprah’s displays of opulence, |
particularly when contrasted with the struggles of everyday people, including some |
who work for her. |
The backlash to Stern’s comments was swift, with many taking to social media to |
criticize him for singling out Oprah. Critics pointed out that Stern has yet to direct |
similar criticism towards wealthy white men who engage in similar or worse |
behavior. For instance, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who famously built a spaceship |
and traveled to space, was not mentioned by Stern, leading some to question |
whether his criticism was truly about wealth flaunting or something more personal |
against Oprah. Comedian Dulce Sloan highlighted this double standard on Twitter, |
questioning whether Stern’s outrage was selective and pointing out the vast wealth |
Stern himself possesses. |

Stern’s critics also noted that he seemed to overlook Oprah’s extensive charitable
work and donations when he criticized her. Oprah has long been involved in |
philanthropy, from her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa
to her numerous contributions to various causes. Some argued that her social |
media posts, far from being a display of vanity, often highlight these efforts and the
positive impact she seeks to make in the world. This led to further questions about |
Stern’s motivations, with some suggesting that his criticism might stem from a |
deeper resentment or misunderstanding of Oprah’s role as both a media mogul |
and |
a philanthropist. |
This was not the first time Stern had publicly criticized Oprah. In early 2022, |
heslammed her for hosting dinner parties at her estate during a surge in |
COVID-19cases. Stern expressed disbelief that Oprah would continue to host such
gatherings,given the risks associated with the pandemic. He even mocked her for |
what heperceived as a lack of concer for public health, despite Oprah’s claims that
she hadtaken all necessary precautions to keep her guests safe. This incident further.
fueledthe perception that Stern harbors a personal grudge against Oprah, a |
sentimentechoed by some of his critics.Compounding the controversy surrounding |
Oprah, Stern’s comments came at atime when she was also facing scrutiny over her past associations, particularly withthe Brazilian faith healer John of God. Once
lauded as a spiritual leader, John of Godwas sentenced to nearly 100 years in prison
for sexval crimes, including the rape ofvulnerable women. Oprah had previously
interviewed him on her show, which somesaw as an endorsement of his work. In the
wake of his conviction, questions aroseabout Oprah’s judgment and whether she
had turned a blind eye to his misconduct Stern’s critique of Oprah, therefore, taps
into a broader narrative of skepticism and scrutiny that has surrounded her in
recent years. While some see Oprah as a beacon of success and philanthropy,
others, like Stern, question whether her public persona masks more troubling
aspects of her wealth and influence. The ongoing debate reflects the complex and
often contradictory ways in which society views wealth, power, and responsibility,
particularly when it comes to figures as prominent as

Oprah Winfrey.