Oprah Winfrey opens up about the backlash she received in conjunction with Ellen DeGeneres' coming out in 1997

In a new interview, Oprah Winfrey is opening up about being a part of fellow television mogul Ellen DeGeneres coming out and the "puppy episode she did on her 1997 sitcom that saw art imitating life when DeGeneres character Ellen Morgan came out to a therapist played by Winfrey.

Off-screen, DeGeneres appeared on TIME magazines cover with the headline, Yep, Im Gay, and she also appeared on Winfreys syndicated talk show to discuss it.

I did it because she asked me to do it and I wanted to support her, Winfrey told The Hollywood Reporter in this weeks cover story. "It didnt occur to me that there would be a backlash."

There was backlash, indeed, as DeGeneres received a hateful response from advertisers, religious groups, executives and more.

But that episode, which was seen by a record 42 million people, also generated some heat in Winfreys way.

It always turns to race. I got all of the, N-----, go back to Africa. Who do you think you are? Winfrey explained of the backlash she received for being a part of it.

The day she did the interview with DeGeneres for the since-ended The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey recalls She was pretty emotional that day -- kind of tense and not fully herself. Its one thing to be ready to step out, its another thing to be ready for the thunderous explosion that occurred after she did.

Fifteen years later, DeGeneres is at the top of her game and loved by many.

Being able to be free -- literally -- and to express herself in a way that she can be 100 ! percent truthful with the audience has allowed them to fall in love with her, Winfrey explained. Honest-to-God truth: I dont believe she would have been as successful as she has become had she not come out.

She added, The reason why people love Ellen so much is because they see themselves in her. Its not about gender or sexual preference.

image courtesy of TIME