Gayle King: ‘Oprah Was Not Forced To Step Away From Russell Simmons Documentary’

When Oprah Winfrey pulled out of the Russell Simmons documentary, many speculated that it was pressure from 50 Cent and other celebrities who were against the project, who convinced her to back off – but bestie Gayle King says that’s not the case.

“I know this was a very stressful and very difficult decision for her to take her name off because she knows that her taking her name off because, as you point out, Russell has done a very public and very private campaign to convince her, she knows that the message that sends is that maybe she was muzzled. Nothing can be further from the case,” King said on CBS This Morning.

On Wednesday, the morning show spoke with three of Simmons’ accusers who detailed the violent attacks they allege that the entertainment mogul carried out.

“She thought that the documentary needed to breathe a little more. She thought that it was important that it be put in context for the times because you know these allegations [are] from many years ago, and now we’re here in 2020. Put it in context of the times of what was going on there at that time.” 

The documentary was supposed to air on Apple TV +, but since Oprah’s exit, they have pulled the plug on their premiere.