Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images
Oprah Winfrey was the commencement speaker at Colorado College where she shook every graduate’s hand and gave them all a copy of her book, The Path Made Clear.
It seems one Instagram user didn’t think this gesture was good enough. Mistaking the billionaire’s comment section as a suggestion box they had this to say, “Should have paid off their student debt @oprah lol @morehouse1867.”
The entrepreneur and philanthropist had time and quickly pulled her receipts and addressed the insta-critic.
“already paid 13m in scholarships. Have put over 400 men thru @morehouse1867.”
This exchange was written under a post showing the 65-year-old celebrating with one of the students graduating that day.
With the mention of Morehouse College, it’s evident the comments were in response to fellow black billionaire Robert F. Smith’s announcement during the HBCU’s commencement pledging to eliminate the debt of all 400 students who make up the Morehouse 2019 graduating class.
Smith, with a net worth of around $5 billion, is the wealthiest African American in the country, a title that many thought belonged to Winfrey who comes in with a net worth of $2.6 billion.
The investor and business man’s promised gift is estimated to be worth around $40 million. The 2019 Morehouse Commencement speaker had already written the HBCU a check for $1.5 million and his announcement came as a surprise to his staff and the school’s administrators.
Watch the commencement speech from Sunday.
This huge philanthropic gesture wasn’t the only major thing that happened on the college campus in Atlanta on Sunday. Actress and activist Angela Bassett received an honorary degree from the historic all-male college. In her speech, she referenced the school’s Alumnus, Martin Luther King, Jr. by charging the students to embody his legacy while creating their own stories and contributions to the world.
Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
Oprah was not the only one to put this Instagram user in their place, many of her 1.6 million followers came to her defense.
One fan wrote “Just because you are wealthy you are not obligated to give. We can all give one dollar at a time. It’s rude for people to put it on others. Oprah has gone above and beyond. She ask for nothing in return.”
Tell Us: What do you think of this critic’s comments? Fair or foul?
Like TV One on Facebook and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
