A now-deleted Twitter post by NBC appearing to endorse a presidential run by Oprah Winfrey has prompted an apology.
A now-deleted Twitter post by NBC appearing to endorse a presidential run by Oprah Winfrey has prompted an apology. Twitter
A now-deleted Twitter post by NBC appearing to endorse a presidential run by Oprah Winfrey has prompted an apology. Twitter

Oops! We didn’t mean to call Oprah our president, NBC says

January 08, 2018 10:49 AM

UPDATED 1 MINUTE AGO

A joking reference to Oprah Winfrey as a future U.S. president has sparked an apology from NBC.

In response to a Seth Meyers joke about Winfrey at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, NBC tweeted “Nothing but respect for OUR future president” to nearly 1.8 million followers. The tweet has since been deleted and NBC has explained the “mistake.”

“Yesterday a tweet about the Golden Globes and Oprah Winfrey was sent by a third party agency for NBC Entertainment in real time during the broadcast. It is in reference to a joke made during the monologue and not meant to be a political statement. We have since removed the tweet,” reads their latest tweet.

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Winfrey, 63, has been the subject of speculation about a possible 2020 run for president, reports The Hill. She has denied plans to seek office, but a fiery speech during the Golden Globes Awards sparked more talk of a possible run.

Winfrey, accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award, received several standing ovations during her speech about the civil rights and #metoo movements, telling abusive men, “Their time is up.”

The post Sunday by NBC about her possible presidential ambitions provoked confusion – and consternation – among followers.

Even Fox News joined in to needle NBC over the tweet.

Memes also quickly appeared claiming NBC had endorsed a joint presidential ticket of Winfrey and disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.