Oprah Winfrey has stepped down as executive producer of the #MeToo documentary focused around Russell Simmons, and reportedly blocking it from viewership on Apple TV+.
Oprah said, “I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+.” She continued, “First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard.”
Of course, the decision more than likely came from criticism the media mogul recently received from hip hop artists 50 Cent and The Game, who both expressed their confusion on why she was targeting black men accused of being sexual predators instead of their white counterparts.
On an Instagram photo 50 shared of Russell Simmons and Oprah Winfrey, his caption reads, “I don’t understand why Oprah is going after black men. No Harvey Weinstein, No Epstein, just Micheal Jackson and Russell Simmons this sh*t is sad.”
The documentary features a former music executive who accused Simmons of sexual misconduct, and is set to premiere next month at the Sundance Film Festival. According to sources, Oprah says more work is needed on the film to “illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision.”
Oprah says her decision to step down will not stop her from continuing to support accusers. She said she “will be working with Time’s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment.”
