14 DAY TRIAL // Ever since she started OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, the Queen of Media has been fending off rumors that she was in the ratings limbo and that she might never get back up in the saddle again. Her most recent tweet isn't helping either.
On Sunday night, as a new episode of her show aired at the same time as the Grammys 2012, Oprah took to Twitter to urge her followers and fans to watch her program instead of the music awards.
“Every 1 who can please turn to OWN especially if u have a Nielsen box,” she wrote.
The Nielsen box is a device that helps count viewers and monitor TV viewing habits, thus offer accurate ratings for each show.
The above tweet has been deleted in the meantime: some say because Oprah was faced with backlash from the community for being “desperate;” she insists it's because Nielsen told her she couldn't say these things on Twitter.
Whichever the reason the tweet is no longer online, it would seem that it still managed to do a lot of harm because many believe Oprah would have never done such a thing had she been on her old show.
Back then, she did not have to “beg” for ratings, they say.
“I removed the tweet at the request of Nielsen, I intended no harm and apologize for the reference,” Oprah wrote on her Twitter shortly afterwards.
She then responded to those who criticized her openly.
“'desperate' not ever a part of my vocab,” she said.
“Just making a request, since I can't watch myself. Choice is yours. the word 'please' is used as courtesy not a beg,” she added.
Oprah insists she didn't know it was “unethical” to ask Nielsen ratings people to tune in for her show to create a false boost in ratings.
A spokesperson for Nielsen has also issued a statement to say that they will be looking into the matter and “withhold, breakout and/or make a note in the ratings” if they deem it necessary.
“We take any violation of our policy seriously and will work with clients to resolve the situation,” the rep adds.