Oprah Winfrey is catching warmth on-line after a heartfelt tribute to the late music icon Quincy Jones on the Oscars, which notably unnoticed any point out of Michael Jackson.
The legendary music producer was honored with a touching musical tribute through the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday night time (March 2).
Queen Latifah paid tribute by performing “Ease on Down the Street” from The Wiz, a movie for which Jones was nominated for an Oscar for his Broadway adaptation.
Queen Latifah performs “Ease on Down the Street” on the #Oscars in honor of the late Quincy Jones pic.twitter.com/fxgBBIt8vg
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 3, 2025
Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, each stars of The Colour Purple, reunited to introduce Latifah’s efficiency. Jones composed the rating for the 1985 movie, which celebrates its fortieth anniversary this 12 months.
“The person, our beloved Q, had an equally highly effective impression on the world of movie as a composer and producer,” Winfrey mentioned.
Goldberg added, “Once we speak about Black excellence, we’re speaking about Quincy.”
Nevertheless, whereas Winfrey highlighted “musical genius” Jones’ collaborations with legends corresponding to Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, in addition to his creation of iconic works like “We Are the World,” there was no point out of Michael Jackson.
“Once we speak about Black excellence, we’re speaking about Quincy.”
Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey pay tribute to the late Quincy Jones — the primary Black composer nominated for an Oscar within the authentic track class in 1967.#Oscarshttps://t.co/nl9CxOviL4 pic.twitter.com/dhyUz26Pgj
— ABC Information (@ABC) March 3, 2025
Oprah Winfrey Known as Out For Not Mentioning Michael Jackson
This omission didn’t go unnoticed, with critics shortly taking to social media to name out Winfrey, particularly on condition that Michael Jackson had famously carried out the track (alongside Diana Ross) that Winfrey launched.
One in every of Quincy Jones’ most important contributions to pop music was producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which stays one of many best-selling albums of all time.
Jones additionally produced Jackson’s Off the Wall, and Dangerous albums after marking the start of their collaboration on The Wiz.
Their partnership not solely propelled Jackson to the title of “King of Pop,” but additionally helped form the long-lasting sound of Nineteen Eighties pop music.
Though Michael Jackson sat with Oprah Winfrey for a groundbreaking interview in 1993, the connection was referred to as into query years after his loss of life.
In 2019, Winfrey hosted a particular referred to as After Neverland, the place she interviewed Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two males who accused Jackson of sexually abusing them as kids. This particular was seen by some Jackson supporters as a betrayal, given Oprah’s earlier pleasant relationship with the Jackson household.
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