America is going through a cultural reckoning. Over the last few years, wrongdoers have been called out during the MeToo movement as well as during the revival of the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd in the Spring of 2020. Now, Oprah Winfrey has come under attack for bluntly asking the Olson twins about their “size” after rumors arose that the then-17-year-old girls were struggling with an eating disorder.
At the time of the Oprah interview, Mary-Kate was struggling with an eating disorder. Although the pair of child stars were already petite and slim, Mary-Kate had to confront Oprah over the awkward “size” question during the broadcast.
Oprah was fifty at the time of the interview with the Olson twins. During the discussion, she came out and asked the girls about the eating disorder rumors and snuck in a question about the girls’ sizes.
I know a new rumor [that has] recently surfaced has really upset you, right?” Oprah said. The girls delay answering because they don’t seem sure about which rumor Oprah wants to discuss. “You know, the one about eating.”
Like a good sister, Ashley steps in to defend Mary-Kate.
“Yeah, you know people are going to write what they’re going to write. We try not to read the good or the bad because it just comes with the territory. Either you’re too fat, too skinny, and people are just gonna write what they –”
However, Oprah interrupts to ask: “What size are you, by the way?”
Both girls are stunned by Oprah’s tackles question.
“Size?” they ask.
Mary-Kate replies that she was always “petite.”
Oprah sarcastically replies, “Oh, that’s so interesting!”
Oprah has been open about her struggles with weight throughout her career in the public eye. She became a spokeswoman from Weight Watchers and used the program to help manage her weight.
Mary-Kate replies, “If we were obsessed with our size, it’d be, I don’t know, a different story.”
Not too long after the Oprah interview aired, Mary-Kate entered a rehabilitation center. She was treated for anorexia while in the facility, which was news that made Oprah’s interview questions seem even less considerate. She spent six weeks inside the facility and was released at the end of July 2004.
Now, the Olson twins’ interview with Oprah has shocked viewers.
“Wow! Was Oprah ever called out for this? Inappropriate much?”
“I know we’re living in different times, but how did they think that was okay!?! [Because] they’re young?”
What do you think about Orpah’s interview question about size?
