In a bombshell announcement that left fans reeling, media mogul Oprah Winfrey revealed on March 21, 2025, that she is closing her iconic talk show gig and moving to Italy, citing an irreconcilable disdain for sharing the same country with billionaire Elon Musk. The 71-year-old television legend, whose name has been synonymous with inspiration and influence for decades, dropped the jaw-dropping news during an emotional live broadcast, marking the end of an era and igniting a firestorm of debate across the country.
Winfrey, whose syndicated The Oprah Winfrey Show ran for 25 years before concluding in 2011, had since transitioned to a broader media presence through her own network and several high-profile specials. However, in her latest statement, she declared that she was stepping away from it all. “I have given everything I have to this country, to my audience, to the stories that matter,” she said, her voice shaking with determination. “But I can’t do that anymore — not here. I can’t live in America for the next four years and breathe the same air as Elon Musk.”
The pointed reference to Musk, the polarizing CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and X Corp, stunned viewers and immediately set social media ablaze. While Winfrey did not elaborate extensively on air, sources close to her suggest the decision stems from her growing frustration with Musk’s outsized influence on American politics and culture, particularly after his vocal support for controversial policies and figures in recent years. “Oprah sees him as a symbol of everything she has fought against — blunted power, divisive rhetoric and a lack of empathy,” a source told reporters. “She has been vocal about her values, and this is her line in the sand.”
Winfrey’s plan to move to Italy includes settling in Tuscany, where she owns a property she purchased years ago as a retreat. “I want peace,” she explained during the broadcast. “I want olive trees, good wine and a place where I can breathe without feeling the weight of the chaos of this country.” The decision to end her show and leave the U.S. comes as a shock to fans who have followed her journey from groundbreaking talk host to philanthropist and cultural icon, but Winfrey framed it as a necessary act of self-preservation. “I’ve spent my life lifting others up,” she said. “Now it’s time to lift myself up.”
The backlash was swift and polarized. On X, supporters hailed her as a principled figure standing up to what they see as Musk’s excess. “Oprah’s entitlement — MUSK’s ego is suffocating this country,” one user posted. Others, however, accused her of melodrama and abandoning her audience. “Running to Italy because you don’t like a guy? That’s rich — literally,” wrote another. Musk himself has yet to respond directly, though his history of engaging critics on X suggests a response may be imminent.
Winfrey’s departure raises questions about her future and her many projects, including her influential book club and charitable foundation. Her team has assured fans that ongoing initiatives will continue under trusted leadership, but her personal absence from the American media landscape will leave a void that few can fill. Industry analysts speculate that the move could signal a broader retreat by public figures disillusioned with the country’s current trajectory.
For now, Winfrey seems resolute. In her closing remarks, she hinted at a quieter life, free from the spotlight she has inhabited for more than 40 years. “I will still tell stories,” she promised, “but they will be mine, on my terms, from a place that feels like home.” As she prepares to trade the Chicago skyline for the hills of Tuscany, her exit underscores a deeply personal stance — one that is as much about escaping Musk’s America as it is about reclaiming her own peace.
Whether this is truly Oprah Winfrey’s final chapter or the prelude to a new act remains unclear. What is clear is that her departure — and the reason for it — struck a nerve, ensuring that her voice, even in retreat, remains as powerful as ever.
