IT’S been almost 15 years since Oprah Winfrey gifted brand new cars to her entire TV audience in a massive giveaway.
After the recipients screamed and wept during the emotional surprise, Winfrey shared some wisdom that shocked her fans even more than the free vehicles.
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An audience member from the Oprah Winfrey Show revealed the full story of the day Winfrey gave away Volkswagen Beetles for Christmas 2010 in a tell-all video.
Candi Davis, now a married mom of two, recalled the “crazy, crazy day” in a series of TikTok posts from May 2023, one of which has now garnered over 8 million views.
Each audience member was given a 2012 Volkswagen and could pick their own colors for the car, which wasn’t even on the market yet at the time of the giveaway.
Davis said that after the show, people in the audience were overwhelmed and grateful for the TV host’s “favorite things” giveaway, which left them with even more prizes than the cars.
The audience members were waiting after the show to speak to lawyers about tax information (Winfrey reportedly paid the taxes for each gifted car) when the interaction occurred.
Davis recalled that some people felt so humbled that they threatened to sell the cars and give the money away.
“We felt like, ‘What did we do to deserve being in this audience today?'” Davis said.
That’s when Winfrey stopped their conversation.
“She kicked off her gold high heels shoes, sat down on the edge of the stage and talked to all of us,” Davis recalled.
“And she said, ‘I know you don’t feel like you deserve any of this stuff, and you don’t.’
She continued to recount Winfrey saying, “‘None of you deserve it, but you are worthy of it, and I want you to remember that.’”
When TikTok users asked if Winfrey’s wisdom felt like a “backhanded compliment,” Davis clarified in a second video that the comments were uplifting.
She said Winfrey told them, ” I want you to accept it.
“I want you to leave here with the car and not feel bad.
“Release any guilt you feel about being gifted the car.”
Oprah Winfrey’s 2010 ‘favorite things’ giveaway
Oprah Winfrey gave the following gifts to her audience members at her final “favorite things
- 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
- Le Creuset cookware
- Coach purse
- Key fob
- Ugg boots
- Diamond earrings
- Cashmere sweater and leggings
- Jewelry box
- Popcorn tin
Source: @alwayscandid
Oprah Winfrey’s team didn’t immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
The cars were ready for pickup 11 months later at each audience member’s local dealership.
Each car was wrapped with a giant bow, Davis said.
Davis said she’s kept her cherry Red Volkswagen Beetle since then, and it hasn’t given her any problems.
She thanked her TikTok viewers for asking about her story about the giveaway, which also landed audience members with diamond earrings, Le Creuset cookware, a Coach purse, Ugg boots, and more.
“It was, I think, my favorite day of my whole life, even though I have two kids,” Davis said.
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