Dr. Mehmet Oz received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday in Hollywood, California, to celebrate the 13 years his Emmy award-winning show was on the air.
Oz, who announced a bid for a seat on the U.S. Senate held by Republican Pat Toomey, who decided to forgo a reelection bid this year, was quickly attacked by political rivals claiming he is too ensconced in Hollywood.
The final episode of Oz’s long-running show, The Dr. Oz Show, was Jan. 14, 2022, after several television stations pulled it because of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal time rules.
“I educated Americans that they can be world experts on their bodies,” Oz said in an email to City News Service. “Empowering people to live the good life, to live their very best lives, to eat better, exercise more, stress less and meditate has saved countless lives.”
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Oz made inroads on televisions as a health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, appearing in 60 episodes over six years. Oz said it was the producers of the show who suggested making a show for himself. However, he credits his wife as the person who inspired him to step into the spotlight.
“After hearing many complaints from my patients about lack of preventive medicine knowledge, my wife, Lisa, said that America was not getting the health message because organized medicine was not giving it to us,” Oz said in his acceptance speech and to City News Service. “She urged me to get out of the hospital room more and start sharing these important insights.”
Oz received the 2,712th star on the Walk of Fame, according to a press release from the Walk of Fame. He was joined by actor Dean Cain for the ceremony. His television show began in 2009 and has received four Emmy awards and was nominated for 10.
Critics of the celebrity heart surgeon have attacked Oz over his Hollywood credentials and comments over the years, including those on “red flag laws” and his support of Obamacare, according to the Associated Press.
One Super PAC that endorsed rival hedge fund CEO David McCormick claimed that “Oz might be right for Hollywood, but he’s wrong for Pennsylvania.” Another called him a “Hollywood liberal.”
Oz’s campaign defended his bid for the Senate, echoing the theme of his campaign.
“Dr. Oz’s Emmy-Award-winning health show about empowering people to take control of their own health resonates with Pennsylvanians,” the campaign told the news outlet.
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The Republican primary for the Pennsylvania Senate is May 17, 2022. Other Republican candidates hoping to secure the nomination include Jeff Bartos, George Bochetto, Kathy Barnette, Sean Gale, Robert “Bobby” Jeffries, David McCormick, Carla Sands, Everett Stern, and David Xu.
