In November 2024, video recordings circulated on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, stating that the FBI had revealed that Oprah Winfrey departed the United States after damning evidence involving indicted singer Sean “Diddy” Combs leaked. However, there was no proof to back up the story, and the claim was baseless.
The clips surfaced following Combs’ arrest on racketeering and sex trafficking charges, as well as Winfrey’s endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful presidential campaign.
The baseless report occurred in a 22-minute video broadcast by the YouTube channel Rap Heat on November 14 with the caption, “5 MIN AGO: FBI Reveals Oprah Has Fled The Country After Diddy Footage Leaked,” and a thumbnail claiming, “Breaking News: ‘Oprah Has Fled!'”
Without naming a source for the alleged story, the video’s narrator said:
The headlines say it all: Oprah Winfrey, once America’s beloved talk show Queen, is now a fugitive. Ever since Diddy got slapped with those silver bracelets, Oprah’s been nowhere to be found. But don’t be fooled by the perfectly curated public image. The FBI thinks they’ve got plenty of reasons to be sniffing around and Oprah’s abrupt disappearing act has everyone asking why: Why can’t Oprah stay in the United States? And what did the FBI discover?
There was no proof that the FBI released such material. Furthermore, there was no evidence that Winfrey fled the country for any reason, let alone a supposed “leak” of material relating to Combs. If there was any validity to the claim ā for example, if an incriminating video between Winfrey and Combs had surfaced ā respected entertainment media sites would have interviewed the persons involved and chronicled the incident. That had not occurred.
Because of the facts surrounding Combs’ arrest, the claim concerning Winfrey and the purportedly “leaked” tape may have appeared credible. For example, Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones stated in a February 2024 complaint that Combs placed concealed cameras around his house to capture compromising images of crazy parties he held, which he later used to blackmail attendees. Also, Winfrey and Combs have attended similar events throughout the years, and Winfrey has interviewed Combs on occasion.
In short, the claim appeared to be made up from whole cloth for the purpose of gaining clicks or views online. A disclaimer on the YouTube channel description read:
The content on this channel is for entertainment purposes only. While we strive to present accurate and up-to-date information, some topics may include rumors, speculation, or exaggeration. All opinions expressed are our own. Viewer discretion is advised, and we encourage independent research before drawing any conclusions.
Such videos regarding false celebrity rumors frequently generate hundreds or thousands of comments from YouTube users by combining accurate and misleading material and employing emotionally charged language. Some of the messages imply that people believe the videos to be true news.
This was not the first misleading video related to Combs that captured social media users’ attention. For example, we previously debunked clips that falsely claimed the children of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Willow and Jaden, revealed their parents had “sold them to Diddy.”
