SIDELINED BY THE SUPERSTAR. HERE IS KATE SNOW.
>> THE ONLY QUESTION
FOR ME IS WHAT IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
>> Reporter: OPRAH
WINFREY ON CBS SAYING
SHE KNEW HER DECISION
TO PULL OUT OF A
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST
RUSSELL SIMMONS WOULD
LOOK BAD.
>> I UNEQUIVOCALLY SAY
THAT I DID NOT PULL
OUT BECAUSE OF
RUSSELL.
THIS IS NOT A VICTORY
LAP FOR HIM.
I CANNOT BE SILENCED
BY RUSSELL SIMMONS.
>> Reporter: OPRAH
SAYS SHE BELIEVES THE
WOMEN FEATURED IN THE
FILM "ON THE RECORD."
>> I STAND IN SUPPORT
OF THESE WOMEN.
>> Reporter: BUT SHE
ALSO SAYS SHE WORRIED
ABOUT INCONSISTENCIES
IN ACCUSERS’ STORIES,
AND TOLD THE
FILMMAKERS SHE WANTED
CHANGES AND DIDN’T
WANT TO RUSH TO
PREMIERE AT THE
SUNDANCE FILM
FESTIVAL.
>> I THOUGHT SOME
THINGS WERE NOT RIGHT.
I WANTED THE CONTEXT
OF THE STORY TO BE
BROADENED.
I WANTED MORE WOMEN
BROUGHT INTO THE
STORY.
>> Reporter: "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" REPORTS
OPRAH LEFT THE PROJECT
AFTER SHOWING THE
DOCUMENTARY TO
DIRECTOR AVA DuVERNAY
WHO GAVE A HARSH
CRITIQUE.
IN NOVEMBER SIMMONS
POSTED THIS VIDEO,
QUESTIONING HIS
ACCUSERS’ ON
INSTAGRAM.
>> FAME AND FORTUNE
ARE CATALYSTS FOR
UNTRUE ACCUSATIONS.
>> Reporter: IN AN
OPEN LETTER TO OPRAH,
HE SAID "I HAVE NEVER
BEEN VIOLENT OR FORCED
MYSELF ON ANYONE."
>> HE HAS MILLIONS OF
FOLLOWERS.
I HAVE LIKE A
THOUSAND.
AND HE IS USING ALL OF
THAT MUSCLE TO TRY TO
DROWN OUT OUR VOICES.
>> Reporter: DREW
DIXON IS AN ACCUSER AT
THE CENTER OF THE NEW
FILM.
AFTER OPRAH’S
WITHDRAWAL, SHE TOLD
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" I
AM BEING SILENCED.
THE MOST POWERFUL
BLACK WOMAN IN THE
WORLD IS BEING
INTIMIDATED.
>> I DO HOPE PEOPLE
WILL SEE THE FILM.
>> EVEN THOUGH?
>> YOU CAN MAKE YOUR
OWN DECISIONS ABOUT
IT.