Oprah Winfrey revisits controversial Sussex interview after five years

Oprah Winfrey reflected on her headline-making interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, explaining that her widely discussed "silent or silenced" question was intended to clarify the Duchess of Sussex's comments rather than shape the conversation.

The television host revisited the 2021 interview while looking back on memorable career moments for Vanity Fair's Scene Selection series.

Oprah explains viral question

During the original interview, Markle said she had always been outspoken but felt unable to use her voice after joining the royal family. Winfrey responded by asking whether she had been "silent" or "silenced," prompting Markle to say she had been prevented from speaking freely.

Reflecting on the exchange, Winfrey said the question was asked to ensure Markle's meaning was clear.

"I wanted to be clear because, 'Was she silenced? Were people telling her not to talk?'" Winfrey said. She added that she wanted to avoid later confusion over what Markle meant, insisting the question was "all for clarification."

Winfrey even noted that the hand gesture she made while asking the question was unusual, joking that she did not know where it came from.

Interview revisited

The 2021 interview marked Harry and Meghan's first major television appearance after stepping back as senior working royals and relocating to the United States.

During the conversation, the couple discussed their mental health, media scrutiny, tensions within the royal family and claims that an unnamed royal had raised concerns about the skin colour of their then-unborn son.

Social media reaction

Winfrey's latest comments sparked renewed debate online, with some royal commentators and social media users arguing she was attempting to distance herself from one of the interview's most controversial moments.

Several critics questioned why she sought clarification on Markle's "silent or silenced" remarks but did not challenge other claims made during the interview.

The interview remains one of the most talked-about royal television appearances in recent years and continues to generate discussion five years after it first aired.