America is going through a cultural reckoning. Over the last few years, wrongdoers have been called out during the MeToo movement as well as during the revival of the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd in the Spring of 2020. Now, Oprah Winfrey has come under attack for bluntly asking the Olson twins about their “size” after rumors arose that the then-17-year-old girls were struggling with an eating disorder.
Oprah has been forced to defend herself after the internet erupted in outrage after the Olson twins’ interview with Oprah resurfaced last week. The video, which was recorded in 2004 while Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson were only seventeen, occurred while the pair were allegedly struggling with an eating disorder. Child stars often have it rough.
At the time of the Oprah interview, Mary-Kate was struggling with an eating disorder. Although the pair of child stars were already petite and slim, Mary-Kate had to confront Oprah over the awkward “size” question during the broadcast.
Oprah was fifty at the time of the interview with the Olson twins. During the discussion, she came out and asked the girls about the eating disorder rumors and snuck in a question about the girls’ sizes.
I know a new rumor [that has] recently surfaced has really upset you, right?” Oprah said. The girls delay answering because they don’t seem sure about which rumor Oprah wants to discuss. “You know, the one about eating.”
Like a good sister, Ashley steps in to defend Mary-Kate.
“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. Either you’re too fat, too skinny, and people are just gonna write what they –”