Oprah Winfrey, the legendary daytime television host and media mogul, recently opened up about her long-standing struggles with body image and public scrutiny, revealing a particularly painful encounter with comedian Joan Rivers on The Tonight Show in 1985. Speaking on the January 14, 2026 episode of The View, Winfrey reflected on how the incident contributed to years of shame, self-blame, and embarrassment over her weight.

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Oprah Winfrey on Public Scrutiny and Body Image

During the interview, Winfrey discussed the intense pressure she felt as a young television host. She admitted that much of the shame she experienced came from internalizing societal expectations about weight.

“What I felt all those years, the shame and the blame that I gave to myself, I felt it was because it was my fault. I felt it was my fault I was overweight,” Winfrey shared.

The 71-year-old media icon explained that comedians and public figures often ridiculed her weight, which made her feel as though she was the butt of jokes because she “should” be losing weight.

“So, when comedians made fun of me, I felt like, ‘Well, it’s okay for me to be the butt of their jokes because I should be losing the weight. I should be able to keep the weight off.’ I felt embarrassed every time I put the weight back on. I accepted it because I felt that they were right.”

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The Joan Rivers Incident on The Tonight Show

Winfrey recalled her first appearance on The Tonight Show, hosted by Joan Rivers in 1985, which started as an exciting moment but quickly became humiliating.

“Joan Rivers said to me, ‘Shame, shame, shame on you for not losing the weight. How did you gain the weight?'” Winfrey remembered. She described how the experience overshadowed the excitement of being on the show, even though she had spent her entire paycheck on new shoes for the occasion.

Winfrey recalled leaving the show feeling embarrassed, but also determined. Rivers reportedly told her she could return if she lost 15 pounds. At the time, Winfrey internalized the comment rather than feeling upset, thinking: “‘I’ve got to get on it, I’ve got to lose those 15 pounds.'”

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Finding Confidence Through Acting

Despite the public scrutiny, Winfrey found empowerment later that same year when she was cast in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, portraying Sofia. She praised the character for embracing her strength and body, saying:

“She owned it, she owned the weight, she carried the weight.”

Winfrey reflected on the irony that the only time she felt comfortable in her own skin was when portraying someone else.

“The only time I ever felt comfortable was when I wasn’t myself, playing somebody else,” she admitted.

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Oprah’s New Book: Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like to Be Free

The discussion on The View coincided with Winfrey’s promotion of her new book, co-written with Dr. Ania Jastreboff, titled Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like to Be Free. In it, Winfrey encourages readers to let go of shame and judgment, advocating for body positivity, self-acceptance, and holistic health.

Her reflections underscore how her early experiences with body shaming shaped her perspective, inspiring her to speak openly about weight, health, and the emotional impact of societal pressures on women.