Howard Stern is setting the record straight about his rumored feud with Oprah Winfrey.
The shock jock opened up about his relationship with Winfrey, 71, during a recent chat on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show “Andy Cohen Live.”
“I think about who are Howard Stern’s kind of enemies at this point, or punching bags,” Cohen, 57, began on the Thursday, Oct. 9 episode of his program.
“And I get the sense that you’ve either publicly or privately kind of mended fences with them,” he continued, “but it seems like Oprah might be the only kind of Howard Stern foe or enemy that you still have?”
But Stern clarified that that was not the case, and insisted that he “loves” and respects the former “Oprah Winfrey Show” host.
“No, I love Oprah,” Stern, 71, replied. “I follow Oprah. I enjoy watching Oprah.”
However, the “Howard Stern Show” host also revealed that he’s “never” spoken to the “Color Purple” star.
“I think she’s afraid,” Stern shared. “I know [Winfrey’s friend] Gayle King very well. And I think at one point she suggested, ‘Oh, we should get together with Oprah.’ I said, ‘You better check with Oprah. You better. Don’t surprise her with me.’”
Stern and Winfrey’s rumored feud dates back to at least 2004, when the controversial radio host called on the FCC to investigate “The Oprah Winfrey Show” over potentially indecent content on the program.
Nearly 20 years later, Stern criticized the billionaire once again, this time over Winfrey’s habit of “showing off” her lavish lifestyle.
Despite those issues, the SiriusXM star admitted that he’s “fascinated by Oprah.”
“I like sometimes how Oprah is so unaware,” he explained during Cohen’s show. “Maybe she is aware, but I suspect, I’m an Oprah follower, but sometimes she’s unaware of the sort of way she shows her wealth.”
“I couldn’t do that. I’m not saying that she’s wrong. We all know she’s wealthy,” he continued. “But I think in the world right now, there is such a disparity between those who have and those who have not. And it’s only getting worse. So I find it funny.”
Later on in the episode, Cohen asked whether Stern would be interested in interviewing Winfrey for “The Howard Stern Show.”
While Stern would be open to the idea, he wasn’t sure if Winfrey would be.
“I would sit down with Oprah,” he replied. “Oprah wouldn’t sit down with me. I think Oprah feels…”
“You know what?” Stern added. “Oprah doesn’t need it. You know what? I’m gonna advise Oprah: Stay away from me, because you don’t need it.”
