Taki Taki

I was Oprah Winfrey’s hero

[Getty Images/Steve Jennings/Stringer]

Gstaad

Some of you may have noticed that I have not commented at all about the ongoing soap opera and latest brouhaha concerning the halfwit and Meghan Macbeth. That’s because I decided long ago that the best way to counter their publicity machine is never to mention them. But I’ve also done something that most of the hacks writing about the couple have not: I’ve been a guest on Oprah’s show twice, on one occasion by my little old self for a whole hour.

Although wince-inducing, squirming, cringeworthy and gushing, The Oprah Show always has a theme and, more importantly, a hook. The hook is what will make people’s ears prick up. In her recent interview with Meghan and Harry, the hook was the theme of racism in the palace, and in particular the baby Archie story.

Make no mistake about it, that show was rehearsed, the main points agreed upon and then reviewed for any ‘gotcha’ details that may have escaped the trio and a battalion of extras. Everything on American television is a lie: canned laughter, faux spontaneity, fake news, misleading advertisements. So why not rehearsed interviews? They sell millions of dollars worth of tooth whiteners that don’t work, hair-growing lotions that don’t make hair grow, skin products that don’t stop wrinkles. Why not sell the idea that there is racism at the palace?

Although I’m told she acted sycophantically towards the couple, Oprah is a mini- tyrant on and off the set, who expects total subservience. She also knows how to turn on the charm and is a self-made billionaire black American female, which is no mean achievement. Here’s how we got together.

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