Fact check: No, Oprah did not wear an ankle monitor during interview with Harry and Meghan

The claim: Oprah Winfrey wore an ankle monitor during her interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

On March 7, 17.8 million viewers tuned in to CBS to watch Oprah Winfrey’s explosive interview with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. The interview  provided insights into the couple’s decision to exit royal life in early 2020. 

Following the interview, the interviewees and interviewer were quickly subject to misinformation online. 

One widely shared claim is that Winfrey was hiding an ankle monitor under her boot throughout the interview.

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This claim stems from QAnon conspiracy theories that Winfrey is a member of an elite “cabal” of pedophiles that controls the government, media and economy. QAnon followers believe perpetrators will be brought to justice in a swift and stealthy “great awakening.” 

Proponents have shared images that highlight a bump in Winfrey’s right boot that they argue is an ankle monitor and that they claim proves she’s been secretly arrested.  

“Oprah, Harry and meghan are all heavily Cabal,” one account captioned several images. “Oprah showing her ankle monitor loud and proud in this interview.”

“I told y’all arrests are goin on behind the scene,” wrote another. “Oprah is a witch and was part of a child sex trafficking cult.”

Other posts that suggest Winfrey was hiding an ankle monitor in her right boot are found here and here.

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USA TODAY contacted several posters for comment.

Winfrey is a repeated target of QAnon

This is not the first time false allegations about Winfrey’s arrest have spread on the internet. USA TODAY debunked similar claims last year.

Winfrey responded to previous allegations in a March 18, 2020, tweet. 

“Just got a phone call that my name is trending,” she wrote. “And being trolled for some awful FAKE thing. It’s NOT TRUE. Haven’t been raided, or arrested. Just sanitizing and self distancing with the rest of the world. Stay safe everybody.”

Both falsehoods likely stem from QAnon-related conspiracy theories that allege Winfrey is part of an elite child sex trafficking ring. 

Travis View, the host of the QAnon Anonymous podcast, told USA TODAY in June that conspiracy theorists target celebrities like Winfrey because “they are thoroughly convinced that the only way you can sort of achieve that high degree of success is by doing something morally depraved.”

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Harpo Productions: Claims are false

Harpo Productions, Winfrey’s media company which produced the interview special, told USA TODAY the ankle monitor claim was false.

In an email, Harpo spokesperson Nicole Nichols said that the claim was “completely untrue.”

USA TODAY analyzed footage from the interview and found the shape highlighted in the photos appeared to be a fold in Winfrey’s leather boot. As she moved throughout the interview, the crease shifted, indicating there was no ankle monitor protruding.  

Also USA TODAY could find no reputable news coverage of the claimed arrest. 

Winfrey has been photographed outside her home several times in recent weeks.

When she began her interview with Markle, she thanked a friend for allowing them to film the interview special on their property. O The Oprah Magazine stressed that the interview was not filmed at Winfrey’s home in a March 8 article.

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The U.S. Sun tabloid published videos and images of Winfrey boarding a private jet for Maui on Feb. 20, after she finished filming the interview in California.

Our rating: False

Claims that Oprah Winfrey wore an ankle monitor during her interview with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle and is secretly under arrest are FALSE. These allegations likely stem from QAnon conspiracy theories that Winfrey is part of a pedophilic “cabal.” Harpo Productions, USA TODAY analysis of the interview and recent reports confirm Winfrey has not been arrested. 

Our fact-check sources:

• USA TODAY, March 8, “Oprah’s CBS interview with Harry and Meghan claims big 17.8 million viewers“
• USA TODAY, March 2, “Duchess Meghan says speaking for herself is ‘liberating.’ The big Oprah interview“
• USA TODAY, June 18, 2020, “Fact check: Ellen, Oprah, many others are not under house arrest for child sex trafficking“
• Oprah Winfrey, March 18, 2020, tweet
• USA TODAY, email statement from Nicole Nichols, spokesperson, Harpo Productions
• CBS, March 7, “CBS Presents Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A Primetime Special“
• O The Oprah Magazine, March 8, “No, Oprah’s Interview with Meghan and Harry Was Not Filmed at Gayle’s House“
• The U.S. Sun, Feb. 20, “Oprah Winfrey boards £50m jet after filming bombshell interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle“

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*** This article has been archived for your research. The original version from USA TODAY can be found here ***