By Allen Lengel
“The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which has been soliciting videos in search of the next big star, got one that prompted the program’s security to contact the FBI, law enforcement sources said.
The video was of a man who had a Mac 10 machine gun in tow and was making what appeared to be threatening remarks, sources said.
The sources said the man urged Winfrey to put him on the show and said that if she didn’t, she would hear about him somewhere else.
Security for the show, which is taped in Chicago, contacted the local FBI office and the wheels started in motion. Because the man had sent the video from Los Angeles, the FBI and police in that city were notified, sources said.
Los Angeles police ended up reaching the man Wednesday. After interviewing him, they determined the gun was not real and there was no real threat. No arrest was made.
One source said the man claimed he was actor and was remorseful about the video.
“The LAPD spoke to an individual and determined that no crime was committed,” Officer April Harding, a Los Angeles police spokeswoman, said tonight.
Winfrey has been running a promotion on her website that says:
Oprah and reality TV super producer Mark Burnett … are joining forces in search of the next big TV star. Do you have a big personality and a big dream for yourself? This could be your BIG BREAK – the chance of a lifetime to host your own TALK show…on OWN. If you think you have “IT” – upload your video audition or go to an open casting call. You can also help decide who wins — keep coming back right here to view auditions and vote for your favorites.
