Oprah Winfrey Opens Up About Jennifer Hudson Drama: 'Everybody Was Mad'

By Christine Fenno Posted May 7th 2011 10:07AM

With the Harpo team in Chicago hurtling toward the The Oprah Winfrey Show finale on May 25, the talk-show queen is in a talkative mood.

As Winfrey launches one behemoth (the OWN network) while ending another (the 25th and final season of her daytime show), she essentially confessed to what fans already adore her for: She's only human.

"I feel like I have not begun to give anything to OWN," she told EW.com in a revealing interview. "Its going to improve exponentially with the amount of time and service I can give." She added candidly, "It's not where I want it to be."

When discussing OWN's reality show 'Oprah Behind the Scenes,' she brought up the Jennifer Hudson episode. The slimmed-down singer had attended an Oprah Show soundcheck during a week of severe snowfall, then quietly flew to Texas for a gig; her delay returning to Chicago the next morning for her final Oprah appearance upset both staff and host, and made for intense 'BTS' footage.

"That was a lot of high drama because we've never been stood up before," Winfrey said, hinting that tactful editing went into what otherwise might have been a bleep-filled episode. "Everybody was mad. I wanted to make sure that there was not one single thing in that episode that had anything to do with us being mad or upset in that moment. It was dramatic. Nobody has ever not shown up, ever. Especially if they were here the night before."

And Winfrey laughed about her own willingness to be herself on camera for the 'Behind the Scenes' series.

"I've taken that to an all-time low, Oh my god," she said. "Jesus, I need a little vanity....The camping trip was an all-time low for makeup and pajamas. I do think I could have had nicer pajamas. The reason why it doesn't completely make me feel like, God I should improve myself, is that people have seen me. They know I can pull it together. And in real life, people don't have coordinated outfits. I don't have coordinated outfits!"

Tags: Jennifer Hudson, oprah winfrey, Oprah Winfrey Network, Oprah Winfrey Show

Comments

(113)

Monday 09 May

By lily

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Or maybe, just maybe.....the airport cancelled flights because of the SNOW STORM. She was flying in a small private plane. Small planes do not fare too well in snowstorms because they don't fly above the weather the way large jets do. Regardless, would YOU fly anywhere in a small plane in the midle of a SNOW STORM?? Oprah isn't worth MY life, and doubt she is worth Jennifer's either.

By flash

Lily, Thank you. Some seem to over look the fact that there was a snow storm, not to mention the bitter cold this past year. Private planes are the first to be grounded, plus a lot of cell phone service was knocked out.Oprah's big a** should know about that after living in Illinois for so long. Also Jennifer had that gig in Texas planned before Oprah asked her unto the show. She had no control over what happened. Oprah really mad because Jennifer lost that weight and is looking damn good and keeping it off. Oprah said she always had a back up because of situations like that, she lied because she has been stood up before,but that one was on purpose. Oprah are you PR poison like they say ? I believe it.

Thursday 12 May

By Coleen

I am guessing that what really upset Oprah and her staff is the fact that Jennifer Hudson did not inform them of her plans. That would have been the professional thing to do. Then the Oprah staff could have had a plan B. All of you Oprah bashers don't seem to be able to get past your dislike for her to see that she is a professional and handles her business in that way. That is why she is so successful. Love her or hate her, you have to give her credit for being very good at what she does.

Sunday 15 May

By Charlotte R. Mallory

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OMG! If you are going to be on the Oprah Show (for goodness sake) is there no consideration for what they call "acts of God"? I mean, jeez, there was a snowstorm, already. What the hamfat is anyone supposed to do if there is a snowstorm? Oprah believes in God. And God said, "Oprah can wait, cause she ain't the boss of me!

Saturday 07 May

By n

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Why can't Opreeeee realize that most people are quite sick of her phony ways.
Go back to your farm and go to seed Opreeee.

By Frances Queen

we really do not know what happen. There is reason for all
things. at my age 77 so much has gone down on me!!
sometimes we can not tell it, at that moment (you feel me ? )

or did i miss something here? does Oprah know the reason for the
no show? and guess what will it matter a month from now?
Oprah is rich Jennifer is good looking!! SO hush little children
dont cry, they are gonna be just fine

By Steven

The Big O, needs to get over herself! No the world doesn't revolve around Oprah.

By Terry

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It sorta does if you're on her show...it's called respect!

By Michelle

I am sooooooooo glad that the Ophra Show is almost over, hopefully she will also disappear... She has been nothing but a Drama Queen since day one... Bye, Bye not sorry to see her go...

By Bucky

You negative responders are SO jealous you must have bile in your veins instead of blood.
Oprah has done more for humanity since her show began than any politician or government...deal with it, you brainless do nothings!

By Karen

In your own words:

You're a total A**hole who has no sense of reality or respect.....

Sunday 08 May

By Ann

Not true. Do your homework. Too many to list Alot of people do way more than she does. They just don't need to publicize it.

By Lorna

Oprah may do alot for others, but she also lets people know she does a lot. Take a look at the gala event when she opened the girls' school in Africa. I appreciate that she is philanthropic, but she needs to quit the "look at me, I'm so wonderful" attitude. It rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

OMG what a byatch! I'm glad she's leaving. But I'm much happier JHud stood her up first.

By Deborah

Get off your high horse Oprah! Jennifer Hudson had her mother, brother and 7 year old nephew brutally! How dare you get upset because she stood you up?? How do you know she stood you up? Did you or your staff bother contacting her and inquiring as to what happened? You probably never called her or asked her if she was sick, or if her baby was sick? What termity you have thinking it is all about YOU! Obviously, Jennifer is not scared or intimated by you, or your staff! Jennifer is not a transplanted resident of Chicago, but a REAl resident of Chicago;s Side South, so don't think that you can imprss her in any way with your tirades or tantrums! Get over yourself please! Most of us out here black and white are sick of you and how you treat your family!

By Gnc

Oprahs not from Chicago. Unless I'm terribly misinformed. She is from the south, and lived with her father there for a while. What has where Jennifer is from got anything to do about it?

Jennifer is not new to the business. She got an academy award years ago. So don't make excuses for her. She is however niave. A lot get's past Jennifer, by her own admission. She is not easily impressed by others, because she is rooted in her religious roots. She started singing in church. So everything else is just gravy.

However, those she pays to handle her career should have done the professional thing and let Oprah know that she was stuck in a snow storm. Maybe they did call. But Jennifer's choice to do a gig elsewhere after she'd been set up for the taping on Oprah was not a choice a professional would make. You never know what can happen, as you can see.

As for everybody being upset.... it costs a lot of money in time, staff, etc., to tape a show. This is serious business. So, she should have either taken the Oprah Gig with a codicil; not taken the other gig; asked Oprah if she could tape a day earlier or later; or politely declined.

That's what professionals do. Her staff or manager failed to do the right thing for Jennifer.

This is for Brian: Thank you for letting us know what transpired that day, and why Jennifer missed the taping of the show. Jennifer should have called and informed Oprah of what had happened. That would have been the professional way to handle this instead of not letting Oprah or her staff know what had happened. Oprah: Give Jennifer a break. She is new to the business, and is acting in true diva style. She will find out real quick that it is how you treat people on the way, you will find those same people on the way down and word goes out quick. Jennifer should have shown some manners on this one, but give her a break. This young woman lost her mom, brother and 7 year old nephew brutally! Her behavior is strange but look at what she has endured in her short life? You be the bigger star and invite her back on OWN. Show her how it is done!

By Kat2988

Don't know what Oprah will do when she cannot get the gossip from people about their tragedies, she will be out of the loop and she won't be able to take it. She says america is fixated on "celebrity" she is the one who has always been fixated.

By Barb

What business is it of ours what Mariah and Nick named their kids? It is their kids.

By car123

Barb, can you read? This article is about Oprah and not Mariah and Nick!!!!

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