Oprah Winfrey Blasted By 50 Cent

Rapper Says Oprah Panders To White Audiences

50 Cent isn't happy with daytime TV's most popular talk show host.

The popular rapper blasted Oprah Winfrey for being out of touch with her cultural roots. He's accusing her of catering to a white audience, while ignoring the rap community. In Elle Magazine, the tough rapper says, "She started out with black women's views, but has been catering to middle-aged white American women for so long she's become one herself."

Oprah has been targeted by other rappers. Ludacris complained that Oprah doesn't respect his opinion, and she didn't treat him properly when he appeared on her show with cast members of the film "Crash." Oprah fired back that Ludacris and other rappers must take responsibility for song lyrics, just as she feels an obligation to the content of her talk show.

50 Cent further told Elle Magazine that Oprah essentially has boycotted the Rap music world by simply not booking any rap artists onto her show. While other rappers charge that 50 Cent may be seeking to strengthen his street cred by creating a controversy with Oprah, where none exists.

On the surface, it seems each party in this dispute - which Oprah has said she'll have no further comment on - has some legitimate issues. 50 Cent is one of the biggest rap stars in music. Oprah has the biggest daytime talk show. Why wouldn't 50 Cent by invited onto the show?

50 Cent dismisses Oprah as being disengaged from the black community, catering to older whites and essentially not worth his time. Why then are we hearing from him? Oprah, as a popular broadcaster, has a vested interest to bring hot topics to her show, but if her audience doesn't like rap for the most part, why would she book rappers? It reminds me of having to watch Johnny Carson because my parents liked him. When I got the chance, I'd watch something else or wait until David Letterman came on, since he was the hip, young show at the time.

50 Cent's displeasure with Oprah appears as one of generation gap, than of a cultural one. If a show on the BET network or MTV catering to urban music and rap suddenly started inviting Martha Stewart on or Faith Hill, their audience would be a little shocked.