Oprah Winfrey opens up about the backlash she received from supporting Ellen DeGeneres coming out

Talk show mogul Oprah Winfrey is opening up about the backlash she received after fellow talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, came out in 1997.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Winfrey starred as DeGeneress therapist in an episode of Ellen where the comedian revealed for the first time that she was gay.

Winfrey explains why she opted to take on the role in the episode, which aired April 30, 1997, saying, I did it because she asked me to do it and I wanted to support her It didnt occur to me that there would be a backlash."

After the episode aired, the talk-show Queen received severe backlash in the form of phone calls and letters. She explains, It always turns to race. I got all of the, N-----, go back to Africa. Who do you think you are?

Furthermore, ad reps began pulling their ads from the program and the coming out ultimately put DeGeneress career in a downward spiral for three years. However, DeGeneres ultimately bounced back and now hosts one of the most popular daytime talk shows to date.

Also, the hilarious beauty married Portia De Rossi in April 2008.