American celebrity presenter Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance at the Democratic Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night to urge undecided voters to vote for “joy”.
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“We’re so excited, we can’t wait to get out of here and do something. And what we’re going to do is elect Kamala Harris as president of the United States. And let’s choose joy!” the influential TV star said.
“Let’s choose common sense over nonsense,” added Oprah Winfrey, 70, to the applause of thousands of convention attendees in her hometown of Chicago.
“America is an ongoing project that requires commitment… and, from time to time, (that project) requires standing up to the bullies,” added the woman who was followed by millions of Americans for her morning talk show, until it was stopped in 2011.
“So I appeal to all of you, independents and undecideds. You know this is true. You know I’m telling you the truth, that values and character matter more than anything,” she said.
She went on to recount witnessing racism, sexism and income inequality, among other forms of discrimination experienced in the United States, adding that she had sometimes been a victim of them.
Her 25 years on the air, from 1986 to 2011, made Oprah Winfrey an American cultural icon, a billionaire so popular that in 2018, a fiery speech was enough for social networks to see her as president of the United States, before she indicated that she was not interested.
Kamala Harris will solemnly accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday at the end of a euphoric convention that attracted millions of television viewers each evening, with famous speakers such as the Obamas taking to the stage.
