Oprah Winfrey proved yesterday, that you better have all your facts in check before you try to come for her. The beloved media tycoon delivered the commencement address for the graduating class at Colorado College on Sunday, where she shook hands with all the students who received diplomas, and gave them all copies of her new book.
The 65-year-old billionaire celebrated the special day on Instagram with a snap from the graduation ceremony, which showed her celebrating with one particularly animated student. Winfrey’s participation at the commencement ceremony seemed to have garnered some insults from some social media observers, however. Critics took to drawing comparisons between Winfrey’s generous gift to the graduating students at Colorado Colleges, and the gesture made by billionaire Robert F. Smith’s over the weekend, who announced in a speech made at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, that he would pay off the student loans for the entire Class of 2019.
“Should have paid off their student debt,” one Instagram user snidely remarked in a comment on Winfrey’s post (see below). Apparently, the remark was not something the star was willing to ignore, and Winfrey shot back with some facts. “Already paid 13m in scholarships. Have put over 400 men through Morehouse.” The critic's’ comment was quickly deleted as Winfrey’s fans quickly came to her defense and pointed out her many past charitable efforts — including recently paying $10,000 for one of her students' wedding dress.