Oprah, Chris Rock, and Celebrities Rally for Kamala Harris: Fact-Check on Paid Endorsements
Fact Check: Kamala Harris and Celebrity Endorsements
Claim: Kamala Harris’ campaign allegedly paid celebrities for their endorsements, with specific amounts listed for popular artists like Beyoncé and Eminem.
Verdict: False.
Details:
A Facebook post claims that Kamala Harris paid millions to celebrities for their endorsements, stating amounts like $10 million for Beyoncé, $5 million for Megan Thee Stallion, and $1.8 million for Eminem. However, prominent figures named in this claim have denied receiving any payments:
- Eminem’s publicist confirmed that he did not receive or was offered any money for endorsing Harris.
- Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, stated via Instagram that Beyoncé did not get paid for her appearance at a Harris rally in Houston, mentioning that she covered her own travel expenses.
- A source close to Megan Thee Stallion also indicated she was not compensated for her endorsement of Harris.
- Lizzo‘s team did not respond, but a report by PolitiFact stated she was not paid for her support.
- Oprah Winfrey asserted on social media that she did not receive payment for her support, although her company received funds for producing an event featuring Harris. These funds covered production costs, not personal gains.
Conclusion:
There is no evidence to support the claims that Kamala Harris’ campaign paid celebrities for endorsements. All mentioned celebrities have publicly denied these allegations, and no related payments appear in campaign finance records.
