Howard Stern addresses Oprah Winfrey being his ‘enemy’ after years of criticism

Howard Stern swears he doesn’t have beef with Oprah Winfrey — in fact, quite the opposite.

During a recent interview with Andy Cohen on his SiriusXM show, Andy Cohen Live, the host asked Stern, “I think about who are Howard Stern’s kind of enemies at this point, or punching bags. And I get the sense that you’ve either publicly or privately kind of mended fences with them, but it seems like Oprah might be the only kind of Howard Stern foe or enemy that you still have?”

“No, I love Oprah,” Stern replied, which prompted Cohen to ask, “You do?”

“I follow Oprah. I enjoy watching Oprah,” the shock jock told Cohen, who then asked if he’d ever spoken to Winfrey. “Never,” Stern said. “I think she’s afraid. I know [Winfrey’s best friend] Gayle King very well. And I think at one point she suggested, ‘Oh, we should get together with Oprah.’ I said, ‘You better check with Oprah. You better. Don’t surprise her with me.'”

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Winfrey for comment.

Over the years, Stern has publicly criticized Winfrey for what he perceives as “showing off” her wealth on her social media. And in 2004, he publicly called for the FCC to investigate Winfrey’s talk show following the agency’s crackdown on his own show.

Despite that, he told Cohen he’s simply “fascinated by Oprah,” and he attempted to explain his past comments about her wealth. “I like sometimes how Oprah is so unaware,” he said. “Maybe she is aware, but I suspect, I’m an Oprah follower, but sometimes she’s unaware of the sort of way she shows her wealth.”

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Stern continued, “I couldn’t do that. I’m not saying that she’s wrong. We all know she’s wealthy. But I think in the world right now, there is such a disparity between those who have and those who have not. And it’s only getting worse… so I find it funny. And I’m not gonna sit there and tell you I don’t think it’s funny. I go, ‘Wow, Oprah is unapologetically wealthy,’ and good for her. But I don’t hate Oprah at all. I think she’s brilliant.”

Later in the interview, Winfrey got brought up again, when Cohen suggested maybe Stern could interview the TV legend sometime. “I would sit down with Oprah,” Stern said. “Oprah wouldn’t sit down with me. I think Oprah feels… you know what? Oprah doesn’t need it. You know what? I’m gonna advise Oprah: Stay away from me, because you don’t need it.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Cohen and Stern discussed the latter’s future at SiriusXM, getting political on his show, in what ways doing his show is still a positive experience for Stern, his journey with therapy, and more.

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