NEWSOprah Winfrey Was 'Very Deliberate' About Not Inviting Dr. Phil to Talk Show Anniversary Party Amid Concerns Over His Political Views: Source
Dr. Phil's absence at Oprah's celebration marking 40 years on television was 'very deliberate,' according to sources.
Aug. 14 2026, Published 5:21 p.m. ET
Oprah Winfrey marked 40 years on television, but reportedly was selective about who she chose to celebrate with.
"If Oprah wanted Dr. Phil there, he would have been there," a source told Rob Shuter's Naughty but Nice report on Wednesday, August 12. "This was her celebration, and she was very deliberate about who was invited back into the room."
Dr. Phil Seemingly Snubbed From Oprah Winfrey's Celebration
Oprah regularly invited Dr. Phil on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' before his own show was launched.
Oprah played a major role in Dr. Phil's transition into television. After his legal consulting firm helped her through a 1996 lawsuit, she regularly invited him on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which helped launch his own spin-off show.
"Dr. Phil owes Oprah a lot, but Oprah also knows exactly what she created," the insider told the outlet. "She doesn't need to bring back everyone from the past just because they were once part of the story."
Dr. Phil's Absence May Have Been Intentional
Sources hinted that Oprah doesn't 'feel connected' to Dr. Phil.
The insider hinted that Dr. Phil's absence may have been "intentional" as their relationship had become distant over the years.
"This was about celebrating the people Oprah still feels connected to," a separate source added. "Dr. Phil is part of the history, but apparently not part of the reunion."
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Oprah Winfrey Stood Behind Helping Launch Dr. Phil's Media Career
Oprah felt Dr. Phil had 'valuable information' to share with her viewers after working together when she was sued in 1996.
Though Oprah has yet to address the medical professional's absence at the celebration, she made headlines when she stood behind helping launch his television career in an interview earlier this week.
"At the time, the reason and intention behind me giving them their breaks was I thought they had valuable information to share that had been meaningful to me," Oprah said in an interview published by Emmy Magazine on Wednesday, August 12.
Oprah Admits She 'Criticized' For Her Connection to Dr. Phil
Oprah called Dr. Phil 'practical, so down to earth and real' when they first met.
The long-time talk show host acknowledged that she's often been "criticized" for giving him a platform because of his "politics" and "views."
"He would ride in the car with me every morning on the way to trial, where I’m literally sitting on trial for six weeks," she explained. "I thought, 'Oh, you could help a lot of people. You should come on my show.'"
Oprah confessed that he was "instrumental in helping" her through her legal issues, describing him as "so practical, so down to earth [and] real."
Dr. Phil faced criticism in 2024 for speaking at a rally for Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Though he did explicitly voice his support for the Republican candidate, Dr. Phil called him "tough as an old army boot."
