While Oprah praised the honesty of the book and said the story of Knowles’ marriages was “admirable,” it was a little comment she slipped in that got social media buzzing.
During the April 22 episode of Oprah’s Book Club podcast, she said, “We are fully engaged in your story and all the people that are in your life — obviously, your ex-husband,” before cheekily correcting herself to “ex-husbands,” putting a bit of extra emphasis on the “s.”
It didn’t take long for fans to pick up on it, and let’s just say, not everyone found it funny. “That was so unnecessary,” one person posted online. Another wrote, “She better keep it cute like we don’t play about Mama Tina,” while someone else chimed in with, “This was unnecessary and weird. This is why I don’t care for Oprah anymore. Just be attention seeking at other people’s expense.”
Others, though, thought people were being a bit too sensitive, pointing out that Oprah and Tina Knowles have been friends for years and the comment was probably just a bit of playful teasing. “Lol Oprah and them are friends, so chill, guys. It’s funny,” said one fan.
Tina Knowles, famously the mother of Beyoncé and Solange, has had a well-documented personal life. She was married to Mathew Knowles from 1980 until 2011, during which time the two built Beyoncé’s career from the ground up. She then tied the knot with actor Richard Lawson in 2015, but filed for divorce in 2023.
Her memoir delves into both relationships and the challenges she faced, and Oprah did genuinely praise the vulnerability and strength shown in the book. But even with the compliments, it was that one small jab that stole the spotlight—and in true internet fashion, people had a lot to say about it.
Whether it was an innocent quip or a little too cheeky, the moment definitely got people talking. And knowing Oprah, she probably knew exactly what she was doing.