Oprah was wrong about Frey!

[cardaway]

Just wanted to say I agree with this - I am a big Oprah fan - for years - but today, I dont' know - I just didn't agree with all the bashing - Reminded of me of her Hermes incident - Anyone who has ever worked retail would understand that the store was in the process of closing and when you are doing that, you don't want to let anyone in!

Today, watching Oprah, just left me with a sick feeling in my stomach -

It's a total repeat of the Hermes incident. I'm shocked people haven't figured out what a true tool she really is.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Lesson for the day ...

Never lie to Oprah -- it ticks her off.
In turn, never tick off Oprah -- you'll live to regret it.

No, the lesson for the day is that Oprah is all about herself. It's not something new, but maybe more people got to see it and recognize it yesterday.

I really feel for this guy. What good comes from humiliating someone?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It's a total repeat of the Hermes incident. I'm shocked people haven't figured out what a true tool she really is.

Holy crap. I think we have been sharing a brain lately.

 

[mickeysgal]

But in the last year, or maybe two years, there has been something very arrogant and almost condescending going on with her and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I can't put my finger on it but, I'm sad to say that I think the the wealth and fame have finally "changed" her. She does not strike me as the down-to-earth woman she once was. I will definitely say that she does wonderful, good works and no one can take that from her. But her personality is different. She just doesn't seem in touch anymore.

The show with Frey made it more evident. I know she was pissed and I know he deserved to be called out, but I don't think she handled the show well at all.

It certainly seemed like underlying theme of yesterday's show was all about her and her public humiliation. It was an all out attack - no two ways about it. That behavior does not endear me to her. I have to agree with some of the prior posts that put the research and verification at the feet of Oprah and her producers. I haven't been watching the show as much as I don't like the preachiness that the show seems to now dictate. I agree...something with her has changed...its her way or no way.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

No, the lesson for the day is that Oprah is all about herself. It's not something new, but maybe more people got to see it and recognize it yesterday.

I am not an Oprah fan and I do believe 99% of the time it is all about Oprah. However, yesterday her apology came across as sincere and humble, quite a feat for a person in her position. There was no waffling, none of the "IF I offended anyone" slop... just a straight plain apology. That was refreshing for a change.

I really feel for this guy. What good comes from humiliating someone?

I do not feel sorry for Frey at all, nor for the publisher. They deserve some public humiliation for perpetrating a lie. They both need to learn what Oprah seemed to learn: you assume accountability for your choices and actions. Frey knew he was writing a lie and apparently the publisher realized it, too. Maybe they will both think twice before pulling a stunt like this again.

 

[Keggy]

I should start out by saying I am a huge fan of Oprah.

I am disappointed in her after yesterday's show. I felt that it was more about her and her embarrassment than this man and what he did and what he is going through. Yes, I do think that her apology was appropriate and I will give her that. But after the show I felt bad for Frey - even though he lied.

I hope the whole thing blows over and he is able to learn from this.

kelly

 

[taeja71]

No, the lesson for the day is that Oprah is all about herself. It's not something new, but maybe more people got to see it and recognize it yesterday.....

she needs to come out of the clouds and back to this thing we call reality.Maybe she was more humble in her earlier days.

 

[cardaway]

Another case of it being all about Oprah (and her red dress)...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legends_Weekend

On it's own, the dress incident is pretty trivial. But add it to these other examples of it being all Oprah, all the time, and.... wow.

 

[Briarmom]

It's a total repeat of the Hermes incident. I'm shocked people haven't figured out what a true tool she really is.

You didn't see the show where Oprah had the Hermes people on did you? She never demanded to be let in, that was all made up. The Hermes people confirmed that, AND there was papparazzi footage of the whole thing. Oprah just stood outside with her boyfriend and Gayle. No big deal.

Crap, now I had to defend her, and she has ticked me off. I hate that.

I am still really worried for James and his mental state.

 

[cardaway]

You didn't see the show where Oprah had the Hermes people on did you? She never demanded to be let in, that was all made up. The Hermes people confirmed that, AND there was papparazzi footage of the whole thing. Oprah just stood outside with her boyfriend and Gayle. No big deal.

Actually I did, and just like the Frey "discussion", it was quite clear that everything both sides were going to say was scripted ahead of time. I don't believe for a second that the folks from Hermes or Frey got to say what they wanted to say.

 

[Briarmom]

Actually I did, and just like the Frey "discussion", it was quite clear that everything both sides were going to say was scripted ahead of time. I don't believe for a second that the folks from Hermes or Frey got to say what they wanted to say.

Well, I disagree about the Hermes incident, because they showed the film. BUT, I agree that Frey didn't get to say what he wanted to say. Heck, he didn't get to say anything at all.

Oh, and does anyone know who that 'lady' (newspaper or publishing or something) was who said Frey needed to be kicked out of Oprah book world or whatever? I want to be sure never to buy anything with her name on it.

 

[cardaway]

Well, I disagree about the Hermes incident...

Same here. Check out everything that was said and when. It became pretty clear to me who was in the wrong and who said what they needed to smooth things over.

 

[Christine]

Well, I disagree about the Hermes incident, because they showed the film. BUT, I agree that Frey didn't get to say what he wanted to say. Heck, he didn't get to say anything at all.

Oh, and does anyone know who that 'lady' (newspaper or publishing or something) was who said Frey needed to be kicked out of Oprah book world or whatever? I want to be sure never to buy anything with her name on it.

Maureen Dowd (or O'Dowd? I think "Dowd").

She is generally a political writer. Has some new book out now about men.

 

[Briarmom]

Maureen Dowd (or O'Dowd? I think "Dowd").

She is generally a political writer. Has some new book out now about men.

She is on my list.

 

[mickeysgal]

No, the lesson for the day is that Oprah is all about herself. It's not something new, but maybe more people got to see it and recognize it yesterday.

I totally agree. She's not what she used to be. Fame, fortune, and power has gotten to her.

I think when the dust settles over this "controversy", I'll bet that she's going to end up taking a bigger image hit over this than Frey. I wish she's channel her anger like this at some of our officials over more global issues such as available health care, the jobless economy, our disappearing pensions, etc. Why isn't she attacking them like she did Frey. Simply put because it humiliated her...it was all about her yesterday and not the "facts" in some book.

 

[Ziva]

she needs to come out of the clouds and back to this thing we call reality.Maybe she was more humble in her earlier days.

I've never found her to ever come off humble. Even back in her early days she came off incredibly fake to me, like she was putting on a big act. Then after her great success very arrogant & smug. Didn't she throw a huge lavish birthday party for herself years ago? She's always rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[Mom2be]

I am not an Oprah fan and I do believe 99% of the time it is all about Oprah. However, yesterday her apology came across as sincere and humble, quite a feat for a person in her position. There was no waffling, none of the "IF I offended anyone" slop... just a straight plain apology. That was refreshing for a change. I do not feel sorry for Frey at all, nor for the publisher. They deserve some public humiliation for perpetrating a lie. They both need to learn what Oprah seemed to learn: you assume accountability for your choices and actions. Frey knew he was writing a lie and apparently the publisher realized it, too. Maybe they will both think twice before pulling a stunt like this again.

Exactly - should we just let people who lie to the American people off the hook? He had a choice to show up, he could have refused the interview. I don't feel sorry for him one bit - all I could think about were the people who really do spend 87 days in jail, have their freedom taken away and forced to really look inside themselves and try to come out as better men and women. This guy mocks them, that was a bigger sticking point to me then the changing of the method of suicide.

While I would have loved for Oprah to go through the book by chapter by chapter and point out lies I think that would have been over the top. She first started with him on why he lied, then turned on the publisher who I do believe has a responsiblity to the public to categorize things correctly - memoir, non-ficition, ficition and then further brought in an expert who just said - publishing houses need to hire fact checkers.

I thought Oprah's apology was sincere. And while yes fame may have gotten to her - she also has a reputation to keep as well. And when you put your name on something as an endorsement and then you find out information was fabricated I can imagine your reputation also gets called into play. This is no different then Pepsi dimissing their contract with Madonna after the "Like a Prayer" video.

~Amanda

 

[mickeysgal]

And when you put your name on something as an endorsement and then you find out information was fabricated I can imagine your reputation also gets called into play.

I would imagine that this was the exact role and responsibilities of her producers. Don't they do their own research to authenticate each guest's story on the show? Where is the show's responsibility in this? I feel the show is as much to blame as anyone else. Again, its about her humiliation, not the fact that he lied in his book.

 

[Ziva]

I really feel for this guy. What good comes from humiliating someone?

Nothing that I can see, but I guess Oprah thinks humiliating the guy will take the eyes off her mistake, I hope the move backfires on her.

 

[cardaway]

He had a choice to show up, he could have refused the interview...

And when you put your name on something as an endorsement and then you find out information was fabricated I can imagine your reputation also gets called into play.

And nobody forced Oprah to take the risk and endorse something she obviously knew very little about. She was a fool to put her name on anything she had not researched first. She blew it, period. Too bad she couldn't take the lumps without trying to push it onto somebody else.