How Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey grew to despise each other

London -  The relationship between former friends Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, possibly the two most powerful female influences on Barack Obama’s presidency, has reached a breaking point, a new book has claimed.

The book, The Amateur, written by Edward Klein, the former editor of the New York Times Magazine, portrays the First Lady as jealous of the access and influence the talk show host had over her husband. It also suggests Mrs Obama criticised Winfrey’s weight, the Telegraph reported.

Klein has claimed that despite an initially warm relationship, the friendship became fractured soon after Obama’s election victory.

According to the book, Valerie Jarrett and Desiree Rogers, advisers to Mrs Obama, became concerned at how close Oprah, whose support for Obama in 2008 was seen as vital, was becoming to the First Family.

The book mentions about an alleged disagreement the pair had over Mrs Obama’s childhood obesity campaign. The author has asserted that Oprah had offered to feature the campaign on her television show but was rebuffed by Mrs Obama.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the latest allegations, however a spokesman has earlier said that Klein had made up stories to sell his book.

“Nobody in their right mind would believe the nonsense in this one,” a spokesman said.