Oprah Just Weighed In On Dr. Oz's Senate Run—And It Probably Isn't The Endorsement He Was Hoping For

Dr. Oz’s Republican Senate campaign has hit yet another snag in his pursuit of political office. Oprah Winfrey, who practically launched the career of Dr. Mehmet Oz, has taken a very tepid stance on her former protégé’s Senate race.

As part of a profile on Oz, Winfrey’s team released a statement from her that was very non-committal in her support for the political hopeful.

It's a move many saw as a burn against the doctor.

Dr. Oz is a name in many households because of Winfrey.

In 2003, she produced a 13-episode series Second Opinion with Dr. Oz and in 2009, her company produced The Dr. Oz Show. Throughout this time, Oz was a regular guest in segments on Oprah’s show.

Oz—a resident of New Jersey—announced his intent to run for the open Senate seat to represent Pennsylvania at the end of November. He pointed to the pandemic as the reason he decided to run.

Since his announcement, people have been wondering what Winfrey thinks of the situation. They got their answer in Olivia Nuzzo’s profile of Oz.

In addition to finding out the Ozes are bad at hanging up a phone, Nuzzo reached out to Winfrey’s team and was told the TV personality is not doing interviews at this time.

However, she did have a prepared statement.

“One of the great things about our democracy is that every citizen can decide to run for public office. Mehmet Oz has made that decision.”

“And now it’s up to the residents of Pennsylvania to decide who will represent them.”

On one hand, it’s not a ringing endorsement of the doctor she made famous, but to many that’s not enough. It’s not a condemnation of the bad science Dr. Oz has peddled on his show for the last decade.

Many online felt Winfrey should take more responsibility for the danger Oz poses to the general public.

The Dr. Oz Show is set to end in January, after a month of steadily dropping ratings.

At that time, Oz will be focused full time on his Senate campaign.