The new documentary Framing Britney Spears, which shows the way the media maligned the pop star, has opened up a larger conversation about how the entertainment industry treats young talent. Part of this reckoning has seen people digging up old interviews and examining them in a new light. David Letterman and Diane Sawyer have both faced backlash for TV moments that have not aged well, and now another name has been added to the list: Oprah Winfrey. In a resurfaced 2004 interview, the host is seen asking Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen some very sensitive questions that fans believe crossed a line. Keep reading to find out why this interview has provoked outrage, and for more unfortunate interview moments, This Resurfaced Jennifer Aniston Interview Has Fans Horrified.
Oprah brought up a rumor that Mary-Kate had an eating disorder.
Like many hosts at the time, Oprah asked personal questions about the then 17-year-old twins' private lives, touching on one particularly sensitive subject: a rumor that Mary-Kate had an eating disorder. "I know a new rumor [that's] recently surfaced has really upset you, right?" Oprah asked. The girls sat silently, waiting to see what Oprah was referring to. "You know, the one about eating," she clarified.
"Yeah, you know people are going to write what they're going to write. We try not to read the good or the bad because it just comes with the territory," Ashley responded. "Either you're too fat, too skinny, and people are just gonna write what they write." This response didn't dissuade Oprah, and she continued with a more pointed question. And for another uncomfortable moment from the host's past, Oprah Says This Was the Worst Guest She Ever Had.
Oprah then asked the twins what clothing size they were.
Oprah interrupted Ashley while she was responding to the initial question about the eating disorder rumor. "What size are you, by the way?" the host asked. Ashley's eyes appeared to bulge at the question. She began to say that they're short, then Mary-Kate jumped in and explained that they've always been petite, with both of them coming in under 5'2".
"Oh, that's so interesting," Oprah responded. The audience burst into laughter. "That is so interesting, I'm obsessed with size, and you're like, 'I really don't know.'" Mary-Kate added, "If we were obsessed with our size, it'd be, I don't know, a different story." Ashley then explained that their clothing often needs adjustment because of their height and weight.
Best Life reached out to a representative for Oprah for comment on the 2004 interview, but has yet to hear back. And for more celebrity content delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Mary-Kate sought treatment for an eating disorder later that year.
Just months after her interview with Oprah, Mary-Kate sought treatment for an eating disorder, per CBS. The star checked in to a rehabilitation clinic shortly after her 18th birthday, on June 13, 2004. CNN reports that she was discharged on July 26. Following her release, Mary-Kate began preparing for her freshman year of college at New York University. And for another resurfaced interview now being viewed with a more critical lens, This Diane Sawyer Interview With Britney Spears Has People Outraged.
A few years later, Mary-Kate opened up about her eating disorder in an interview.
When an interviewer from Elle asked Mary-Kate about her experience with an eating disorder, the star emphasized the importance of asking for help when you need it. "I think the hardest part to get to is that point of asking for help or reaching out to other people and being honest with yourself," she said, as aggregated by The Cut. "I do not want to go through my life with my eyes shut. And I don't want to go through it with a closed mind. I want to be aware of things. And I'd rather know than not know."
Mary-Kate also said that people's life experiences are part of growing up. "Everybody is going to go through hard times," she continued. "It's a part of life." And for more news on the Olsen family, Elizabeth Olsen Almost Did This to Distance Herself From Her Sisters.
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