![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton poses for a photo at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., December 1, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/David_Letterman_2012.jpg/500px-David_Letterman_2012.jpg)
Photo — David Letterman: https://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/8242878152/ (Public domain) · Oprah Winfrey: Oprah Winfrey (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Short Version
A long-running, public tension between talk show hosts David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey began following an uncomfortable guest appearance by Winfrey on Letterman's show in 1989. The rift persisted for over sixteen years through public jests and media commentary until the pair publicly reconciled on Late Show in 2005 and further cleared the air during a 2013 interview.
Latest Development
Both attend the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago
David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey were among the celebrity attendees at the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
June 18, 2026 · Verified event
The Beef
Chronological, newest first. Every entry cites a source.
Beef timeline
June 18, 2026
Both attend the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago
Verified eventDavid Letterman and Oprah Winfrey were among the celebrity attendees at the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Source ↗January 2013
Letterman and Winfrey officially resolve differences on Oprah's Next Chapter
Verified eventDavid Letterman appeared as a guest on Oprah's Next Chapter, where Winfrey explained the origin of her discomfort during the 1989 interview, prompting an apology from Letterman and putting the feud to rest.
Source ↗2010
Letterman recounts restaurant bill incident to Jon Stewart
Public statementIn an interview with Jon Stewart, Letterman stated that Winfrey hated him and recounted a story about leaving Winfrey with his restaurant tab while on vacation.
Source ↗December 1, 2005
Oprah Winfrey returns to Late Show for first interview in 16 years
Verified eventOprah Winfrey appeared on Late Show With David Letterman to discuss their history, after which Letterman escorted Winfrey across the street to the Broadway premiere of her musical production The Color Purple.
Source ↗1995
David Letterman jokes about Oprah Winfrey while hosting the Oscars
Verified eventDuring the 67th Academy Awards broadcast, host David Letterman delivered his famously lampooned line introducing Winfrey and actress Uma Thurman: 'Oprah, Uma. Uma, Oprah.'
Source ↗1989
Oprah Winfrey guest stars on David Letterman's show
Verified eventOprah Winfrey appeared on David Letterman's show, later describing the experience as uncomfortable due to audience hostility and banter that left her feeling targeted.
Source ↗
Where It Stands
Resolved. The feud is fully resolved. After public reconciliations in 2005 and 2013, both television figures have maintained a friendly relationship and have both attended high-profile public events such as the 2026 Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago.
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Sources
- 1.SourceBoth attend the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago · Jun 18, 2026
- 2.SourceLetterman and Winfrey officially resolve differences on Oprah's Next Chapter ·
- 3.SourceLetterman recounts restaurant bill incident to Jon Stewart ·
- 4.SourceOprah Winfrey returns to Late Show for first interview in 16 years · Dec 1, 2005
- 5.SourceDavid Letterman jokes about Oprah Winfrey while hosting the Oscars ·
- 6.SourceOprah Winfrey guest stars on David Letterman's show ·
Allegations are attributed to the party that made them and are not statements of fact.