Dr. Oz, Jennifer Lopez & More React To Oprah Winfrey’s Big Announcement

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Jennifer Lopez arrives at the premiere of Sony Pictures’ ‘This Is It’ held at Nokia Theatre Downtown LA on October 27, 2009
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Dr. Mehmet Oz attends the TJ Martell Foundation’s 9th Annual Family Day at Roseland on March 2, 2008 in New York City
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Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage at the ‘Precious: Based On The Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire’ press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel on September 13, 2009 in Toronto, Canada

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FIRST PUBLISHED: November 20, 2009 5:45 PM EST
LAST UPDATED: November 20, 2009 5:53 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Dr. Mehmet Oz has issued a statement over Oprah Winfrey’s departure from her show in 2011.

“I know the rest of the world shares my heartfelt admiration and congratulatory salute to a woman who showed us how the power of television can make us better,” Dr. Oz said in a statement to Access Hollywood. “Oprah Winfrey taught us that uplifting programming and a focus on personal improvement can be fun and entertaining. Through her extraordinary success and leadership, Ms. Winfrey has opened the door for countless others interested in sharing this vision and brought her television audience to expect a level of integrity unprecedented in broadcasting. On a personal note, as a mentor and a friend, Ms. Winfrey built a bridge so I could take everything I learned in medicine and transfer it to television in an effort to teach millions. That is symbolic of the higher calling perspective she instills in everyone privileged enough to work with her. Her announcement to pursue another direction is not the end of era, but a turning point in Ms. Winfrey’s journey and mission to bring inspiration and joy to all our lives.”

Dr. Oz recently became the latest member of the Oprah fraternity to get his own spin-off show – “The Dr. Oz Show.”

But beyond the Oprah’s closest friends, some of the many celebrities she’s interviewed or affected over the years have also shared their thoughts on the news she is ending her talk show run.

“It’s sad,” Jennifer Lopez told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush after he broke the news to her on Thursday. “I think it’s the end of an era. She’s such a big presence on television. People look to her for what’s new and what’s happening and she’s so trusted in the community.”

But fellow daytime show host Martha Stewart said Oprah’s departure from her network show isn’t really a departure at all.

“She’s not leaving – she has a whole new network,” Martha told Access. “She’s going to be on her own network… She’s fabulous.”

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