Oprah Winfrey reportedly made a significant financial move to prevent the release of an Apple documentary focused on her life. Sources have revealed that the media mogul bought back the rights to the project, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, which had been in the works since 2021.
Originally announced with much excitement, the documentary faced delays after Macdonald, who collaborated with long-time Winfrey producer Lisa Erspamer, disagreed with Winfrey over the final cut. Following these tensions, the project was put on indefinite hold.
An insider divulged that Winfrey opted to pay back her fee to Apple to ensure the documentary remains unreleased. A spokesperson for Winfrey confirmed this development, stating that as her deal with Apple TV+ concluded in September 2022, she secured the rights and decided it wasn’t the right time for the release.
Despite rumors suggesting a hefty sum in the millions paid to Apple, one knowledgeable source clarified that the payment was not in the seven-figure range.
Throughout her career, Winfrey has produced a variety of successful projects, including “The Oprah Conversations” and “The Me You Can’t See,” but nothing has equaled the magnitude of her groundbreaking CBS interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in March 2020.
Previously, Winfrey and Macdonald had collaborated on a documentary about Whitney Houston, which was well-received. However, this recent conflict has left Macdonald’s film about Winfrey absent from his current list of projects as he debuted a new project on John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
This isn’t the first time a high-profile documentary has been stalled. Netflix’s much-anticipated Prince documentary remains on hold due to estate objections regarding its portrayal of the late musician.
In her recent activities, Winfrey traveled to Graceland for an interview with Riley Keough, promoting Keough’s book about her late mother, a poignant venture that showcases Winfrey’s commitment to compelling storytelling.
As the landscape of documentary filmmaking evolves, it’s clear that major figures like Winfrey are taking significant measures to control their narratives, reinforcing just how real the power dynamics in Hollywood can be.
