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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.
Shocking— Jim Dandy (@Jim Dandy) 1640804681
BOOM! Oprah Winfrey has DECLINED to endorse Dr. Oz, instead saying it is up to Pennsylvania to decide whether they will vote for him.\n\nHow does that make you feel?— Jon Cooper \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Jon Cooper \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1640713312
He's silly to assume she would back him. Of course she won't. She doesn't owe him that.— Lucky Star (@Lucky Star) 1640744605
\u201c I never heard of him . \u201c Oprah— Bring Back CRT and Voting Rights (@Bring Back CRT and Voting Rights) 1640828272
Can we contact your last employer?https://twitter.com/theavclub/status/1476278356286926848\u00a0\u2026— Jonathan Stefonek (@Jonathan Stefonek) 1640818972
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.
Totally agree.— Jason Chirevas (@Jason Chirevas) 1640810416
Girl, you need to take a firm stance against your prot\u00e9g\u00e9 running for the Senate in Pennsylvania.https://people.com/politics/oprah-winfrey-weighs-in-dr-ozs-republican-senate-campaign-pennsylvania/\u00a0\u2026— Barbara Malmet (@Barbara Malmet) 1640722483
https://twitter.com/TheAVClub/status/1476278356286926848\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/m0r3O8RDL1— Caitlin SLH Fillmore (@Caitlin SLH Fillmore) 1640807549
Oprah owes us all apologies for Dr. Oz. \n\nAnd Dr. Phil.\n\nAnd Dr. Drew.— The Ghost of Dean Barnett (@The Ghost of Dean Barnett) 1640729870
I am disgusted that @Oprah isn\u2019t working as hard to make sure OZ FAILS, as she did in making his career. A career of lies & medical malpracticehttps://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1475954745873518595\u00a0\u2026— Jennifer Holmes (@Jennifer Holmes) 1640785048
Dear @Oprah,\nThat\u2019s it? That\u2019s all you got?\nMehmet Oz \u201chas the right to run?\u201d\nOK, I\u2019ll play. I agree with you. Now, what do you think of his decision to run? Does the prospect of him being one of only 100 Senators sound good to you? Will you vote for him?https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/587503-oprah-winfrey-offers-first-comment-on-dr-oz-senate-run\u00a0\u2026— BigBlueWaveUSA 2022 #StopVoterSuppression (@BigBlueWaveUSA 2022 #StopVoterSuppression) 1640827712
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.