Did Oprah mock The Chosen star Jonathan Roumie? Viral rumors alleging host derided actor’s faith explored

In June 2025, social media users were hit by a viral wave of speculation alleging that Oprah Winfrey ridiculed actor Jonathan Roumie’s Christian faith during an episode of her talk show.

The viral video alleged that Roumie, who played Jesus Christ in the hit faith-based series The Chosen, was reportedly mocked by Winfrey in a spiritual enlightenment special show produced by Harpo Studios.

The story was popularized in a YouTube video named “Oprah Mocked Jonathan Roumie’s Faith on Live TV — His Response Left Her Shaking…,” which racked up over 450,000 views and was widely spread on Facebook, TikTok, among other social media platforms.

However, there is no evidence to support these claims. No reputable media outlet has said anything about the alleged interaction between Oprah Winfrey and Roumie.

The video features a fake transcript that recounts a heated conversation about Christianity between Winfrey and Roumie. The video is narrated by a voice-over that praises Roumie’s grace and theological insight. It begins by saying:

"Jonathan Roomie was about to speak seven words that would change Oprah Winfrey's life forever but neither of them saw it."

According to Snopes, the AI-generated thumbnail shows a manipulated yet fake still of Winfrey looking as though she is rejecting Christianity, an image that analysis sites like Sightengine say may have been generated by AI. Moreover, the original YouTube channel that posted this controversial clip admits to the fact that it is a channel that uploads fictional stories.

"The stories on this channel are entirely fictional and meant for entertainment; any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental." Read the video description.

A look into Jonathan Roumie's deep connection to Christianity

Actor Jonathan Roumie has become a household name after playing Jesus in the popular series The Chosen, winning over audiences not only with his acting but also with his powerful personal faith.

A New York City native baptized Greek Orthodox, Roumie's early religious beginnings were altered when his family converted and moved to Roman Catholicism on Long Island.

According to The Eternal Word Television Network, his father, an Egyptian who was educated in Catholic schools, and his Irish Catholic mother naturally guided the family towards Catholic teachings through their local Catholic Church, where Roumie took his sacraments.

Although Jonathan Roumie was raised in the Catholic Church, his spiritual journey took a turn in 2018. Frustrated and broke with no clear future for his career, he resorted to prayer. His devotion to the Divine Mercy Chaplet was a central facet of his spiritual life, especially during the pandemic, when he began livestreaming the prayer to thousands of viewers.

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Roumie has also teamed up with the Catholic app Hallow, supported organizations such as Unbound, and most recently, starred in the docuseries Jonathan and Jesus.

Jonathan Roumie has been completely outspoken about his faith throughout his career, and has encouraged other Christian actors to put faith at the forefront of their decision-making process when offered roles.

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