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During an appearance on Andy Cohen Live, the 71-year-old SiriusXM host addressed speculation about lingering tension between himself and the media mogul, clarifying that he has nothing but admiration for her.
"I love Oprah," Stern told Cohen. "I follow Oprah. I enjoy watching Oprah."
Cohen, 57, had asked whether Oprah was the last remaining "enemy" Stern had yet to reconcile with, prompting Stern to laugh off the idea. "No, I love her," he said again, emphasizing that any notion of animosity was overblown.
Still, Stern admitted that he and Winfrey have never actually spoken. "I think she's afraid," he said with a grin. "I know Gayle King very well, and at one point she said, 'Oh, we should get together with Oprah.' And I told her, 'You better check with Oprah first. Don't surprise her with me.'"
The pair's alleged feud dates back to 2004, when Stern publicly urged the FCC to investigate The Oprah Winfrey Show for indecent content while the commission was simultaneously targeting his own broadcasts. He later made headlines again in 2022 after criticizing Winfrey for "showing off" her wealth on Instagram.
"It's wild to follow her online," Stern said at the time. "You see her estates, her gardens, the people who work for her. She knows how to be rich — she kind of likes to show it off, which I couldn't do. But she's unapologetically wealthy, and good for her."
On Cohen's show, Stern acknowledged that he remains "fascinated" by Oprah. "Maybe she's aware, maybe she's not," he mused. "But I think in a world with such a gap between the haves and have-nots, it's interesting to watch. I find it funny, but I don't hate her. I think she's brilliant."
When asked if he'd ever want to interview her, Stern didn't hesitate: "I'd sit down with Oprah. But she doesn't need it. Honestly, I'd advise her to stay away from me — because she's Oprah."
