Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has come under political fire after hosting a livestreamed event with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

During the Sept. 19 “Unite for America” rally, which featured Hollywood stars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Stiller via video geared toward rallying support for Harris ahead of the 2024 election, the event quickly became the goal of online criticism from Trump supporters.

The response to Winfrey’s first joint tweet with the previous California attorney general was so overwhelming that she disabled comments a couple of posts on Instagram promoting the event and recap afterward. Fans speculated that the lockout was related to the wave of negative reactions and hostile remarks questioning the integrity of each women.

“The stakes in this election are very high, and each of us has a job to do between now and Election Day.” To read caption on a post Harris made just hours before the event.

Harris also expressed her excitement at the chance to meet with Winfrey, calling it a “one-of-a-kind livestream event” to discuss their shared vision for a greater future.

But the comments section quickly became a battleground for political rhetoric, with a flood of Trump supporters pouring in.

“One billionaire and one millionaire telling us we can’t trust the rich,” one comment read, while one other added: “This will be a pass. No respect for Oprah anymore and we never had for Kamala.”

Hostility increased when some users accused Harris of being out of touch with key national issues similar to military strategy, with one noting, “Harris doesn’t even know where our troops are. Disturbing! I know how I vote.”

The critical backlash also revived old allegations about Winfrey’s past relationships.

“Oprah was Donald Trump’s best friend until he ran for president as a Republican. He hasn’t changed. She has,” one user said, referring to Winfrey’s once-friendly relationship with the previous president.

Winfrey’s decision to disable commenting on her posts posts fueled further conspiracy theories.

“I WONDER why Instagram disabled messages for Kamala… during the OPRAH chat… Hmmmmmm! They didn’t disable President Trump’s messages with the Jewish Federation,” one other user speculated.

The criticism didn’t stop there. Several comments ridiculed each women, accusing them of being out of touch with odd Americans.

One commenter noted, “This is the same way (Oprah) tried to sell her Weight Loss Plan for years and then turned around and used Ozempic when she decided to lose weight!!!! Please!!!!! Don’t buy the bridge she’s trying to sell.”

One person said bluntly: “Nobody trusts Oprah anymore, this is a bad idea!!!”

Trust within the 18-time Emmy winner has waned over time.

When Winfrey opened a college in South Africa in 2007, certainly one of the teachers was charged with sexual assault, and lots of blamed her.

Even when she tried to raise money for people in Maui, Hawaii, people questioned her intentions and ridiculed her for using odd people’s money while she sat on estimated net price $2.7 billion.

Despite the backlash, Harris supporters rallied within the comments to defend the candidate’s policies.

Winfrey and Harris’ interview itself also sparked controversy, particularly due to Harris’ admission that he owned a gun.

Oprah said she was surprised to learn Kamala Harris owns a gun.

Harris: “If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot.” photo:twitter.com/1paBEwuuPX

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 20, 2024

“If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot,” Harris told Winfrey candidly, apparently surprising the “Beloved” actor and producer.

Winfrey, who has famously struggled to connect with odd Americans on problems with wealth and sophistication, also found herself in hot water when Harris shared her plan for tax breaks for small businesses.

Oprah said she was surprised to learn Kamala Harris owns a gun.

Harris: “If someone breaks into my house, they’re going to get shot.” photo:twitter.com/1paBEwuuPX

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 20, 2024

Another segment that seemed to show Winfrey’s lack of knowledge of average people concerned small business owners and Harris’ plan to give start-ups a $50,000 tax break so that they can pursue the American dream by running their very own business.

When Harris mentioned the $50,000 tax deduction, Winfrey joked, “It’s a tiny business.” Harris replied, “The concept of a business,” prompting mixed reactions from MAGA fans in regards to the billionaire’s perceived out-of-touchness with on a regular basis Americans.

However, Harris-Walz’s supporters rallied on Platform X when the clips were shared.

“Watch out, you MAGA idiots. She has her rules. Trump lies to you about his promises. He will never keep them,” one user he fired it back uppointing to Harris’ plans for small business owners, including a $50,000 tax break for startups.

“He still has nothing but a health care plan. He doesn’t have to worry about infrastructure because President Biden has already taken care of that. I’m voting for someone who actually cares about me, not billionaires. What about you?”

“For me, starting a small business will become more feasible if Kamala is elected and this is implemented. Especially with interest rates dropping” as well as other.

While Trump supporters dominated many of the comment sections, Harris’ base remained strong. Grassroots groups like Latinas for Harris, White Dudes for Harris and Win With Black Men joined the net conversation, hosting phone calls and virtual events to bolster support for the candidate.

Harris’ campaign advisers said nearly 200,000 people signed up to watch the live stream across apps, and nearly 100,000 watched it on YouTube. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitch were also heavily used to broadcast the event.

Despite the negative response, Harris’ team stays optimistic about her standing, with recent polls showing her leading Trump 47 percent to 42 percent. In key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and North Carolina, Harris has a bonus, while in Arizona the 2 candidates remain tied, according to Reuters.

Winfrey’s decision to disable the comments section could have been an attempt to quell negativity, however the episode underscores the deepening political divide because the 2024 election approaches. The presidential race looks set to get increasingly nasty.

Sasha Obama has made probably the most of her time in Los Angeles after transferring from the University of Michigan to the University of Southern California in 2022. After graduating with a level in sociology in 2023, the 23-year-old has develop into a magnet for public attention.

From her workouts to her adult habits, the whole lot the White House’s second black daughter does makes headlines. Sasha never asked for the highlight—her parents did.

Her personal style has come under fire recently, with some fashion critics criticizing Sasha’s casual, “homeless” look. Spotted multiple times around Los Angeles, the second daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama has been showing off her unique style while hanging out with friends, older sister Malia Obama, or just living within the City of Angels.

Recently, HOLA! published photos of the former first daughter running out to do some shopping and having fun with the last days of summer. Dressed in a brown button-down shirt tucked into light blue high-waisted shorts, green slip-ons and her favorite necklace, Sasha looked relaxed and assured.

Despite this, critics have criticized her fashion decisions.

Another outlet, SheKnows covered Sasha’s outfit that called her the “Queen of Street Style.” “Style is not a word that comes to mind,” one commenter wrote when SheKnows covered her outfit, earning her the nickname “Queen of Street Style.”

Another person added: “I mean… Street style queen? In the eyes of the beholder, that’s what I think.”

The insults became increasingly harsh.

“She looks almost homeless. I don’t know how anyone can see anything ‘chic’ or ‘trendy’ in this,” one critic commented. Another wrote: “She looks awful. You’d think she could afford a fashion coach.”

The criticism wasn’t limited to her attire – there have been also intolerant insults, directed not only at Obama’s younger daughter, but in addition her sister.

“Now you know if they were the daughters of a Republican president, the press would tell us what they really thought. So much flattery, I thought I was watching a Bambi movie.”

Looks high lol

— Big Straight (@win_again_exe) September 14, 2024

But Sasha just isn’t without defenders. Many fans have taken to social media, criticizing the media for its scrutiny of her appearance and demanding her privacy.

“These ladies live their lives, there are no reports of drug or alcohol abuse or legal issues,” one person commented, before mentioning, “Their style is comparable or even better than what I see on others their age these days. They don’t walk around in pajamas and slippers. All the comments below are from people who know they will never be able to keep up with these ladies.”

The resistance didn’t end there.

“Both Sasha and Malia Obama are beautiful young women. They are college students and finding their place in the world. Adults of my generation didn’t like what we considered fashion back then, just as we might not like what Sasha and Malia wear today. Leave them alone,” one defender wrote.

Another user summed up what many were pondering: “I wish the press would leave them alone. They were not elected to public office and deserve privacy.”

Adding: “I also think they should leave Barron Trump alone. They’re not their parents.”

This isn’t the first time people have rallied behind Sasha Obama. Earlier this week, she was spotted smoking, which sparked further criticism. However, supporters once more asked the general public to leave her alone, emphasizing that each Sasha and Malia are adults and may legally do whatever they need.

The Obama girls aren’t the one presidential children to face such intense media scrutiny. Chelsea Clinton faced similar harassment during her father’s presidency, enduring cruel comments about her appearance, especially growing up. The Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, were often criticized for partying and underage drinking while their father, George W. Bush, was in office.

Even Barron Trump faced public criticism for his behavior and appearance despite being a minor.

Things are different now, as social media has develop into a tool for balancing response with public support. While Sasha and the president’s other children should face harsh judgment, their defenders are louder and more visible than ever, offering a counternarrative to the negative attention.

As one person wrote in Sasha’s defense, “Let them just be themselves!”

Natasha Rothwell is ready to tackle latest role as ‘Reesy Teesy’.

As theGrio previously reported, the actress is ready to star in a TV adaptation of the viral TikTok saga “Who TF did I Marry.” While fans reportedly envisioned her starring in a Hollywood adaptation of the viral 52-part series, Rothwell says producing the show was the final thing on her mind.

“I devoured it on the spot,” she said. People Magazine, recalling the primary time she watched videos on social media. “(I didn’t think) ‘Oh, how can I do this?’ I did, (but rather) ‘I want to do everything I can to help this woman get flowers,’ because it was the most vulnerable act of honesty (and) radical vulnerability I’ve ever seen.”

Earlier this yr, social media couldn’t stop talking about Tareasa “Reese Tees” Johnson and her compelling story about her marriage and divorce from the person she calls “Legion.” Sharing candidly the small print of her complicated marriage to “Legion,” who she says is a pathological liar, Johnson’s videos have racked up greater than six million views on social media. So Rothwell wasn’t surprised to see “very competitive” negotiations in Hollywood for Johnson’s story.

Featured Stories

But unlike other producers and executive directors, Rothwell had a singular vision for adapting Who Did I Marry?

“It wasn’t her trauma that interested me and[made me]want to throw my hat in the ring,” she explained. “It was her — who she is as a person, how she survived all of this — and the viral fame, how she survived that. I was like, ‘Oh, this is where I lean in.’”

Having spent nearly eight years developing her recently released Hulu show How to Die Alone , the actress and producer says she took the same approach in negotiations with Johnson. Ultimately, her “if it’s meant to be, it will be” attitude paid off when she was notified that the viral TikTok storyteller desired to work along with her.

“My team called me (and said), ‘She wants to work with you specifically. You saw her in the meeting. She felt seen. It wasn’t opportunistic,'” she added.

But just as Johnson felt seen, the How to Die Alone actress felt seen when the duo met for dinner earlier this month. Feeling like she had met her “twin,” Rothwell compared their interaction to being in a “mutual bubble of love where we just enjoy each other and understand each other and learn about each other.”

“I’m definitely looking forward to approaching her story in a 360-degree way, and not just… telling the story that we’ve all been consuming. I think it’s a lot more interesting than what happened to her,” she said, revealing that the series is “in its very early stages.”