
Source: NBC NewsWire / Getty
In recent days, celebrity doctors Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil have both made alarming comments regarding the novel coronavirus spread and the spike of COVID-19 cases nationwide. Given that both men gained their massive platforms via Oprah Winfrey, the media mogul is catching a fair amount of unnecessary criticism as a result.
Winfrey’s name was trending this morning, this after Dr. Phil, full name Phil McGraw, was a guest on Fox News. After Dr. Anthony Fauci, the NIAID director and leading immunologist suggested that America’s push to reopen the economy is coming a bit too soon, Dr. Phil, a psychologist, compared the loss of life to COVID-19 to automobile accidents, lung cancer, and drownings.
“We don’t shut the country down for that,” Dr. Phil shared. “Yet we are doing it for this and the fallout is going to last for years because people’s lives are being destroyed.”
Dr. Oz, full name Mehmet Oz, made a similar statement with Fox News host Sean Hannity, suggesting that schools can be reopened and called it a “very appetizing opportunity” and suggested that the loss of life is worth getting students back to normalcy.
Oz, a cardiac surgeon who has courted controversy over the years for hawking alternative medicine, has since walked back the statements and apologized via video. He noted that his words “confused and upset” people and he restated that his larger goal was to examine how to get children back to the regular schedule of learning.
With the damage already done, trolls and detractors alike have zeroed in on Winfrey. We’ve managed to capture a variety of reactions via Twitter below.
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Photo: Getty
1.
Not sure why everyone thinks they need @Oprah to come out against the recent crack-pot statements by Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil....you have two eyes and ears. Oprah is not responsible for the nonsense they are spewing now and you don't need her to confirm what you already know.
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) April 17, 2020
2.
3.
There is no way people would be coming for Oprah for the words of two white men that she has no control over if she weren’t a black woman. No way.
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) April 17, 2020
4.
What if we stop putting doctors on TV whose biggest accomplishment is "knowing Oprah"
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) April 17, 2020
5.
Watching Mehmet Öz and Phil McGraw join the pro-death ranks, I once again remind everyone that we need to hold Oprah Winfrey accountable for giving these grandstanding charlatans a national platform to do the damage that they do.
— Mx. Amadi (@amaditalks) April 17, 2020
6.
Since basically everything has become politicized these days I’m gonna need Oprah to come out and denounce the shit out of Dr. OZ and Dr. Phil
— Albert MacGloan ➐ (@AlbertMacGloan) April 17, 2020
7.
I for one do not blame Oprah.
— Jerry Avenaim (@avenaim) April 17, 2020
But Mr. Phil and Mr. Oz are going to need new careers after this is over. pic.twitter.com/WcE7j3oOpM
8.
Once again:
— Mike Gibbs🏳️🌈 (@Mikeggibbs) April 17, 2020
Oprah Doctors are frauds.
Do not listen to them. Do not spread their poisonous messages.
Whether that's Oz, Phil or whatever schtick they go by these days. And stop giving them the honour of "Dr" before their names.
You might as well be taking advice from Krusty. pic.twitter.com/nCCoGeScQg
9.
Two out of the three are escapees from Oprah’s. Afternoon TV Laboratory. https://t.co/amma7NOUQU
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) April 17, 2020
10.
Love me some Oprah Winfrey ' but she created these two Goons. It's time for Oprah to speak up . https://t.co/Tif8DHWEBd
— Adelino Camara (@ADIC33) April 17, 2020