Thursday, January 26, 2006

"I Really Feel Duped"
Oprah Winfrey

Oprah, who do you think you are kidding? At first you protected your investment and defended serial liar James Frey, but when it became obvious that your staff and possibly you were aware of the nature of one of the lies, you back tracked.

A former staffer at Hazelden, the rehab facility that Frey described in his book, says that she told Oprah's producers that Frey's accounts were lies. Oprah went ahead with her promotion of Frey's book anyway, knowing a besteller when she saw one.

In my Black Commentator column last week I said that Oprah should be seen for what she is, a business woman. She isn't a shrink, or a spiritual leader. She sells a feel good product and that is OK, but no one should be fooled by her claims of promoting our best selves. No one should now be fooled by her crocodile tears.

Oprah may not be a spiritual leader, but she is beginning to show signs of being a cult leader. Her viewer/followers backed her initial defense of Frey. What will they say now? If they go from felling OK to feeling duped too, Oprah should confirm the rumors and become a Scientologist. She is in a cult of her own making already.