When it comes to TV personalities pivoting from the small screen to politics, there are two categories: the Donald Trumps and the Caitlyn Jenners. It is becoming increasingly clear that Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is currently running in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, belongs in the latter category.
Despite huge name recognition, deep pockets, connections to Oprah, and a ton of press coverage, the TV doctor is running an absolutely terrible campaign, and he has nobody to blame but himself.
Today, Oz, who moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania for the sole purpose of running for office there, will take a break from campaigning to fly across the country to Los Angeles, where he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to Newsweek. Why he thought this was a good idea is anyone’s guess.
Caitlyn Jenner pulled a similar move during her disastrous gubernatorial run in California last summer, when she flew to Australia to film Big Brother VIP, and was widely criticized. She ultimately lost the election, winning a paltry 1% of the vote. (She also reportedly burned through almost $1 million on the failed vanity project.)
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Related: Caitlyn Jenner’s campaign debrief has begun and OMFG what a mess that was
Oz’s opponents were quick to criticize him for leaving to campaign trail to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A new attack ad accusing the TV doctor of being “right for Hollywood, but he’s wrong for Pennsylvania” has already begun airing across Pennsylvania. This is in addition to another attack ad branding him a “Hollywood liberal” that hit airwaves last month.
The ads come after Oz’s abysmal performances in multiple straw polls. In one of them, he received just one–yes, ONE–vote out of more than 100 cast, despite spending over $5 million on TV ads. In two others, he placed third and fourth.
Per Politico:
The straw poll results in the Senate race are not binding, and they’re not surveys of the actual electorate. Many political operatives expect that the state Republican Party ultimately will decline to endorse in the primary this year — giving state committee members much less power than they would otherwise have. But the fact that Oz has stumbled out of the gate in this first test among GOP activists has exposed vulnerabilities in his past record and raised questions about whether rank-and-file voters will also turn their backs on him once they learn more about him.
Related: Dr. Oz’s campaign for U.S. Senate is a sh*tshow of epic proportions, insiders say
Tellingly, Oz has made absolutely no mention on his Twitter page about receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. This morning, while he was presumably en route to L.A., he tweeted a video of himself meeting with constituents in Luzerne County.
“I spent time with West Pittson leaders in Luzerne County talking about how regulations and bureaucracy are holding back our communities from making needed investments,” the 10-time Daytime Emmy Award winner wrote.
I spent time with West Pittson leaders in Luzerne County talking about how regulations and bureaucracy are holding back our communities from making needed investments. pic.twitter.com/GRHnXO1U1R
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) February 11, 2022
Now, some responses…
From tv personality to expert on how regulations and bureaucracy are holding back our communities.
No, just someone who thinks they know more.
— VOTE THEM OUT ! (@votethemout13) February 11, 2022
Paid actors
— Talal ALMUTAIRI (@hunterzorro2) February 11, 2022
kwak kwak kwak
— summerwind (@summerw07043354) February 11, 2022
What is “it” exactly? You never really say anything but you talk too much. GET OUT OF PA! We don’t want or need you. Hypocritical fraud.
— Martha Roth (@Buds_mom) February 11, 2022
Grifter.
— Colleen Boykin (@ColleenBoykin1) February 11, 2022
“Our communities”? You’re from New Jersey you quack.
— Brendan McNulty (@VoiceofBrendan) February 11, 2022
The Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Oz will commence at 11:30 AM PST today.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Cam
One thing left out is that those stars aren’t granted by some group. They are asked for and paid for. So if he’s receiving a star it’s because he bought it.
BarryM
Running for the Senate is just a vanity project for Oz.
tjack47
He has the excitement and pizazz of Dr. Ben Carson. One a brain surgeon. One a heart surgeon. Neither possessing the organ of their specialty.
Texasholdem
His republican primary opponents criticize him for his Star but I bet they don’t care about Trump having one
whereshouldistart
I don’t think trump has a star.
It’s more of a receptacle for human and/or dog shit.
inbama
@whereshouldistart
LOL
Yes, he does – and it’s been destroyed twice!
Heywood Jablowme
Trump’s star has also been desecrated, uh, defecated on several times.
Myles1988
Um YFG doesn’t have any star quality. He is full of crap and always has been. These two grifters deserve each other
CNY1983
I suspect he’s the shovel behind all the bullshit supplements and pain relievers they hawk on fox.
dario717
Lost in this is Mehmet Oz getting a star on the walk of fame. Really? That used to mean something. This is like like Flo from the Progressive commercials winning an Emmy.