Dr. Oz recently talked back to critics who demanded his ouster from Columbia University. A group of doctors unaffiliated with the school had composed an open letter accusing Oz of promoting products for personal financial gain. The surgeon responded on The Dr. Oz Show by questioning the motives of those who called for his dismissal.
Now Dr. Oz is telling People how his television mentor, Oprah Winfrey, supported him during the controversy. Oz came to prominence as a television personality through his association with Winfrey and her former talk fest, The Oprah Winfrey Show . Winfrey told Oz the controversy was to be expected by a person in his position.
“Oprah’s a very supportive woman. She’s very mothering.
“She said, ‘You’re not unique, it’s part of the experience of life.’”
Oz made the statements to People at an event Wednesday night, the day before it was announced that Winfrey’s company, Harpo Productions, is cancelling Dr. Oz’s radio show as of May 29. The Daily Dose With Dr. Oz had been syndicated by Westwood One. A spot with Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been offered to stations as a replacement.
But the cancellation apparently had nothing to do with the Columbia controversy. In a statement to E! News , Harpo revealed its radio division ended several months back and the Oz cancellation was part of the wind-down process.
“Harpo Radio ended in December 2014. As a part of its closure, we mutually agreed to end our relationship with Westwood One who will distribute ‘A Daily Dose with Dr. Oz’ through June 1. Dr. Oz will be announcing a deal with iHeart Radio shortly.”
Dr. Oz also told E! how Oprah has supported him through the criticisms launched at his television show.
“When it gets hot in the kitchen you call people you trust so yes I connected with Oprah. I talked to [my wife Lisa] who is the brains of the operation…
“Oprah left me a very nice message, saying to recognize sometimes it’s uncomfortable but if its unworthy doing, stick with it.”
He downplayed to People the effect the bad press has on his personal life. In the grand scheme of things, he says it is not important.
“Some of the people walking by on the street here have a diagnosis of cancer. You’d never know it, but that’s a much bigger deal than a couple bad headlines.”
[Images: Dr. Mehmet Oz and Oprah Winfrey courtesy of Getty]
