Oprah Winfrey hints at backing for Pete ‘Buttabeep, Buttaboop’
Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg and Oprah Winfrey (Getty)
Oprah Winfrey has hinted that she may support gay Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, though she’s not quite got the hang of his name yet.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the TV host hinted at her admiration for the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who has been gaining support in the Democratic primaries ahead of the 2020 election.
Oprah Winfrey wants an interview with Pete Buttigieg
Winfrey, who previously ruled out her own rumoured Presidential bid, said: “Right now, I’m studying the field. I’m reading Shortest Way Home by [Pete Buttigieg], I call him Buttabeep, Buttaboop.
“The name’s either going to really hurt or [help] — I think it’s going to help, actually.”
She added: “Just the other day, I was at Apple with Spielberg and we were in the hallway talking about, ‘What are we going to do?’ And I said, ‘Have you heard of this Butta guy?’ He goes, ‘No, Butta-who?’ I go, ‘Buttabeep, Buttaboop. Look him up.'”
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg signs autographs as he greets supporters after speaking at the West Side Democratic Club during a Dyngus Day celebration event on Monday, April 22, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP/Getty)
Asked later on who she would like to interview, she said: “I don’t want to be in a daily rhythm of trying to come up with people to interview, but when there are people who are of the culture — like, last year, I would’ve wanted to sit down and have a conversation with Christine Blasey Ford.
“Right now, I’d probably want to sit down and talk to Butta.”
She added: “I’d like to see what’s up with Butta. And then whatever else shows up.”
Buttigieg has explained the correct pronunciation of his name is “Boot Edge Edge.”
Pete Buttigieg has been gaining in polls
Polling has suggested that Buttigieg is now in third place in the race for the Democratic nomination, behind Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.
His campaign has also pulled in major celebrity support.
American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy and his husband David Miller are reportedly hosting a star-studded fundraiser for Buttigieg on June 19.
The event is set to be co-hosted by several of Hollywood’s gay elite: actor Matt Bomer and his husband Simon Halls, TV mogul Greg Berlanti and and his producer husband Robbie Rogers, and star of The Lion King Billy Eichner.
Filings with the Federal Election Commission revealed the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has won donations from other high-profile backers.
Hollywood stars including Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, Glee‘s Jane Lynch, West Wing‘s Bradley Whitford and Mandy Moore of This is Us are among those to have made donations to Buttigieg.
Out TV executives including The L Word creator Ilene Chaiken and How to Get Away with Murder creator Peter Nowalk also backed the candidate, alongside Game of Thrones executive producer Carolyn Strauss.
