Oprah Recalls Joan Rivers Body-Shaming Incident

Oprah Winfrey recently opened up about being body-shamed by Joan Rivers during her first appearance on 'The Tonight Show' in 1985. Rivers' comments about Winfrey's weight left her feeling 'shamed' and contributed to her belief that she had lost a role in 'The Color Purple' due to her size. Following the show, Winfrey attended a 'health retreat,' commonly referred to as a 'fat farm' then, to lose weight. However, a pivotal moment came when the film's producer, Steven Spielberg, called her to say that losing weight could cost her the part, which she eventually secured and earned an Academy Award nomination for. Winfrey emphasized the life lesson she learned from this experience: to work hard and then let go of the outcome. This incident has remained a significant and grounding experience in her life and career.