Oprah Winfrey at Cannes Lions: Using Her Talk Show as a "Force for Good" and Protecting Whitney Houston's Dignity
By
Jesse Whittock
Summary
Oprah Winfrey delivered a keynote at Cannes Lions, reflecting on her career and the moment in 1989 when she realized her talk show could be a "force for good." She discussed the responsibility of brands and creators, her upbringing in Mississippi, and the power of intentionality. Notably, she recounted an incident where she had to beg her audience not to share images of Whitney Houston falling off stage, emphasizing the importance of protecting people's dignity over sensationalism.
Source
DeadlineOprah Winfrey at Cannes Lions: Using Her Talk Show as a "Force for Good" and Protecting Whitney Houston's Dignitydeadline.comKey quotes
· 5 pulledI realized that my show was not just a talk show, it was a platform for good.
I had to beg the audience not to share those images of Whitney falling off stage. It was about protecting her humanity.
Being intentional about what you put into the world is the most powerful thing you can do as a creator.
I understood in 1989 that this was bigger than me — it was about using the platform for purpose.
Your brand is not what you say it is, it's what you do.
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