The Washington Examiner reported that the Harris campaign paid $500,000 twice to Harpo Productions. These transactions, recorded on October 15, were part of the campaign's spending on celebrity-driven events.

Details on Oprah's Campaign Involvement

Oprah Winfrey joined Harris at a town hall a month before these payments and attended a rally in Philadelphia a few weeks prior to the fund transfers. Harpo Productions, formerly based in Chicago's West Loop, has since relocated to West Hollywood.

The Chicago Tribune contended that such payments to a celebrity's production company should qualify as campaign donations due to the timing and context of the events. The paper emphasized that while celebrities like Winfrey boost visibility, the campaign could have gained more from direct voter engagement.

After media scrutiny, Oprah Winfrey addressed allegations of receiving a personal fee from the Harris campaign, telling TMZ, "I was paid nothing." A spokesperson for Harpo clarified to Variety that Winfrey did not personally receive any fee or payment from her company for the campaign.

Campaign Expenditure Critique

The editorial board emphasized that although the production staff involved in these events deserved compensation, the nature and amount of the payments raised questions. "It’s true that production workers need to be paid and that’s fair enough; they’re not donors," the Tribune stated, "But she does own Harpo and serves as its chairwoman and CEO. The production fees should have been a campaign donation."

These concerns arise as debates intensify over the effectiveness of using high-profile celebrities in political campaigns. The Tribune recommends that the Harris campaign focus on substantive policy discussions and engage more with independent journalists.

Exploring Alternatives to Celebrity Endorsements

"Better yet, rather than do such events, the Harris campaign would have been better advised to let its candidate answer questions from independent journalists and give her more of a chance to explain herself and lay out her plans for America’s future," the editorial board advised.

The board criticized the strategy of leveraging celebrity support, noting that "Celebrity osmosis did not work; voters wanted to hear more about what Harris would do for them," reflecting a preference for direct communication over star-studded appearances.

In conclusion, the Chicago Tribune editorial urges a reevaluation of using celebrities like Oprah Winfrey in political campaigns. They argue that campaigns should prioritize substance over star power, directing funds toward efforts that directly engage and inform voters.