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OWNOprah Winfrey has decided to cut ties with the filmmakers behind a documentary about the women who’ve accused music mogul Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Winfrey says she will no longer serve as an executive producer on the project.
“I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+,” Winfrey said in her statement. “First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard.”
But, she continued, “In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision.”
Winfrey called the filmmakers “talented,” adding that she had “great respect for their mission,” but didn’t think the film was ready for its Sundance Film Festival premiere later this month, so she subsequently decided it was “best to step aside.”
“I will be working with Time’s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment,” she added.
Oprah’s announcement comes after the media mogul was recently called out by 50 Cent for targeting black men. In a recent Instagram post, 50 claimed that Winfrey seemed to have a vendetta against black men, referencing her involvement in both the upcoming Simmons doc and her controversial special, After Neverland, which featured Michael Jackson abuse accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
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