Winfrey threw her considerable weight behind Obama for president in 2008, the first time she ever endorsed a political candidate for office. She then refused to interview Republican Vice President candidate Sarah Palin, leading to a significant drop among her core audience of White women.

The talk show icon has ended her "free" syndicated television show after 25 years and started her own cable channel, OWN. That channel "has been struggling to find an audience - she isn't going to do anything to alienate them," the source told Pop Eater.

"Unlike in 2008, when a drop in ratings didn't matter as much for the queen of TV, Oprah is now fighting every day to get people to tune into OWN."