Oprah pays hefty fee to suppress Apple documentary on her
Oprah Winfrey, the renowned talk show host and media mogul, has reportedly bought back the rights to a documentary about her life from Apple TV+. The move comes after alleged disagreements with the film's director, Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald. Sources claim that Winfrey was unhappy with the final cut of the documentary and has since decided to halt its release.
Winfrey and Macdonald's creative differences
According to Page Six, Winfrey "paid millions" to Apple TV+ executives to effectively stop its release. The film, which was announced in 2021, was a collaboration between Macdonald and Winfrey's longtime producer Lisa Erspamer. However, it has been on hold due to disagreements between Winfrey and Macdonald. A well-placed Hollywood source revealed to Page Six, "Kevin made the film, but Oprah didn't like it and he refused to change it."
Winfrey's spokesperson confirms buyback
A spokesperson for Winfrey confirmed the buyback to Page Six, stating, "As the Apple TV+ deal was coming to an end, Ms. Winfrey bought back the rights to her docu-series and has since decided to put the doc on hold." The spokesperson further added that Winfrey appreciates the efforts of Erspamer and Macdonald on the project, recognizing them as "incredibly talented filmmakers."
Winfrey's previous collaborations with Apple TV+
Winfrey has previously worked with Apple TV+ on several projects, including The Oprah Conversations and Oprah's Book Club. She also collaborated with Prince Harry for the mental health special The Me You Can't See. However, none of these projects were as high-profile and profitable as her CBS interview with Harry and his wife Meghan Markle in March 2020, which marked their first public appearance after leaving the royal family.
Winfrey's history of documentary disputes
This is not the first time Winfrey has been involved in a documentary dispute. In 2020, she was set to collaborate with Apple TV+ on On the Record, a documentary about a former music executive who accused Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct. However, just 15 days before its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Winfrey dropped the documentary without much explanation. She joined hands with the platform to produce original content in 2018.
