Oprah Winfrey explains shock departure from 60 Minutes

Oprah Winfrey. Photo / Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey has opened up on her shock removal from 60 minutes.

The media mogul has toldThe Hollywood Reporter that she is no longer working at 60 Minutes, less than two years after making her debut on the iconic program.

"It was an interesting experience for me," Winfrey said. "I enjoyed working with the teams, and I'm probably going to work with some of the freelance people on my Apple stuff, but it was not the best format for me."

When asked to explain further, Winfrey said, "How should I say this? Never a good thing when I have to practice saying my name and have to be told that I have too much emotion in my name."

Winfrey said the way she said her name was a problem for producers.

"I think I did seven takes on just my name because it was 'too emotional'. I go, 'Is there too much emotion in the 'Oprah' part or the 'Winfrey' part?," Winfrey said.

"They would say, 'All right, you need to flatten out your voice, there's too much emotion in your voice.'"

Winfrey, of course, is well known for her exuberant delivery, which is one of her trademarks.

"So I was working on pulling myself down and flattening out my personality — which, for me, is actually not such a good thing."

Winfrey also revealed she was helping BFF Gayle King, who is about to enter contract negotiations with CBS in the US.

"I said, 'Get what you want. Get exactly what you want because now's the time. And if you don't get what you want, then make the next right move,'" she said.