Is Oprah being unfair??

[windovervocalcords]

Do you all realize that you're bickering about celebrity gossip???? Come on now. If you want to bicker, can't you find something important to bring up?

Bickering, that is, quarreling about petty points, seems to be what keeps alot of threads going, doncha think?

 

[HeartofTexas]

If she doesn't donate a certain amount of her income to charity, she's going to get stuck paying taxes on a whole bunch of money.

Oprah does a huge amount of good for the world, but I'm not so sure how charitable she is with her own money. I would still like to see the figures for what she actually donates. Most of it is covered by sponsors, promos and her Angel Network, with matching money donated by places like Amazon.com, etc. All of the decorating for her Santa Barbara home, in addition to the re-do on her Hawaiian home, are either written off thru her magazine or her show where the re-do's are featured. Again, I'm not saying that her "word of mouth" doesn't spread more good in the world than her vast sums of money could... but I do wonder how much she actually donates from her own bank accounts. I think many times there is an illusion that she is donating much more than she does. I would guess much of the work she does in Africa comes out of her own pocket, but I think almost all of the Katrina homes came from sponsors and the Angel Network. Also, the huge exposure she got for giving away all of the free cars a few years ago was pure hype, IMO. She didn't donate the cars... the car manufacturer did.

And I agree with the people who have mentioned how she has treated some guests, whether I personally liked the guests or not. If Oprah likes you, then she treats you like butter. But if she doesn't, there is a look of disdain so plainly visible on her face that it's an embarrassment to watch. Maybe she's entitled to those looks... I don't know. I just know as a viewer that it's very uncomfortable to watch.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Bickering, that is, quarreling about petty points, seems to be what keeps alot of threads going, doncha think?

Gets plenty of people a time out too!

 

[windovervocalcords]

Gets plenty of people a time out too!

Are you warning me I am close to a time out???

 

[TisHerself]

Good post Ellen. I think what you said about the "Frey" controversy is true, but I would add that when she went on Larry King, she pretty much figured that her word was law and that all her fans were going to agree with her. When they stated calling and speaking out that they COULD NOT believe that she was standing by what Frey did, THAT'S when she completely changed her tune and got pissed off. Then, she had him back on and took out her frustrations on him because he made OPRAH look bad. IF those calls to her complaining about it hadn't come, she would have left it alone. That's why I call her a hack.

And, while I am thrilled that she gives so much to charities, let's not forget that she's a BILLIONAIRE. If she doesn't donate a certain amount of her income to charity, she's going to get stuck paying taxes on a whole bunch of money.

Totally agree, it is more than obvious than Oprah is a very driven woman and more power to her. She has made herself into a very rich and powerful woman in the sense that she can donate to the charities she chooses. There is no denying that many people have benefitted from her help.

Like you however I am not lured into her altruistic web, she is very much a manipulater of others feelings. And she certainly knew how to play that game in the very beginning to gather her fan base. She made sure in the beginning to have people who spoke of child sexual abuse so she could share about hers. Or other heartbreaks in one's life she shared them also, it was a way of hooking in the audience and she knew it. Smart move, I am not taking anything away from her, she wanted to make money and be famous and she figured out how to do it.
What she did to James Frey on her show was just unprofessional, uncalled for and unkind. Yes he lied, but by that time everyone knew it, they did not need the almighty Oprah to chastize him on national TV just to satisfy her ego.
So I am with you I also call her a hack always have.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Are you warning me I am close to a time out???

No, that would have come in a PM. I was just saying . . . bickering sometimes gets out of hand!!

 

[ellen13]

Great post right back atcha Jeana!!

 

[TisHerself]

Do you all realize that you're bickering about celebrity gossip???? Come on now. If you want to bicker, can't you find something important to bring up?

Your right!!! Mea Culpa!!!!:slap:

 

[mssheila]

I am just laughing my butt off here. I went to Oprah's website.. http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml
and look at what she has on for a show tomorrow:

"Gay for 30 days"
One straight man lives 'gay' for 30 days... and Male model Tyson Beckford gets trapped in an inferno. Then, another guest is straight, conservative and in the Army—how he lives "gay" for 30 days. Plus, just married…and then a bizarre twist: The groom disappears! What happened next?

 

[ellen13]

Great post right back atcha Jeana!!

I wasn't referring to your time out post, I was referring to your Oprah post, just to clarify. I wasn't talking about great post to windovervocals.:truce:

 

[ellen13]

I see that she's having the cruise ship wife on today whose hubby went overboard. I'm sure Oprah will rip her a new one today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[shopper]

I see that she's having the cruise ship wife on today whose hubby went overboard. I'm sure Oprah will rip her a new one today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a repeat from earlier this year. Oprah has been on re-runs since last Tuesday. She may be on summer hiatus.

If you haven't seen it, check it out today. It was a pretty good episode, I think she was sympathetic towards the wife, maybe not a lot, but she didn't do a James Frey on her, lol.

 

[eve]

Oprah does a huge amount of good for the world, but I'm not so sure how charitable she is with her own money. I would still like to see the figures for what she actually donates. Most of it is covered by sponsors, promos and her Angel Network, with matching money donated by places like Amazon.com, etc. All of the decorating for her Santa Barbara home, in addition to the re-do on her Hawaiian home, are either written off thru her magazine or her show where the re-do's are featured. Again, I'm not saying that her "word of mouth" doesn't spread more good in the world than her vast sums of money could... but I do wonder how much she actually donates from her own bank accounts. I think many times there is an illusion that she is donating much more than she does. I would guess much of the work she does in Africa comes out of her own pocket, but I think almost all of the Katrina homes came from sponsors and the Angel Network. Also, the huge exposure she got for giving away all of the free cars a few years ago was pure hype, IMO. She didn't donate the cars... the car manufacturer did.

And I agree with the people who have mentioned how she has treated some guests, whether I personally liked the guests or not. If Oprah likes you, then she treats you like butter. But if she doesn't, there is a look of disdain so plainly visible on her face that it's an embarrassment to watch. Maybe she's entitled to those looks... I don't know. I just know as a viewer that it's very uncomfortable to watch.

This is an excellent post. Celebrity charity and giving is often more than meets the eye. I agree that she engages in less than even handed treatment of guests. It's when she starts gushing and azz-kissin that I get really uncomfortable.

Eve

 

[Jules]

She may be on summer hiatus.

No, she's wedding crashing.... :silenced: :innocent:

 

[shopper]

This is an excellent post. Celebrity charity and giving is often more than meets the eye. I agree that she engages in less than even handed treatment of guests. It's when she starts gushing and azz-kissin that I get really uncomfortable.

Eve

Gah, especially John Travolta. :sick: (not puking at JT, just at the way she acts around him.)

 

[deanws]

Gah, especially John Travolta. :sick: (not puking at JT, just at the way she acts around him.)

I know...but it is hard to act any other way! He is a real cutie! Not so much as his looks, but his manners and how he treats his fans. :blushing:

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I know...but it is hard to act any other way! He is a real cutie! Not so much as his looks, but his manners and how he treats his fans. :blushing:

You know how he could make a LOT of money for charity?? Allow women to come and have a dance with him for a donation. I love how they try to have him dance in almost every movie that he's in.

 

[deanws]

You all know he's a scientologist, too. lol

Yes, I do. I actually mentioned that on the Tiny Tom thread. He is a scientologist, yet he doesn't seem to try to suff it down everyone's throat nor does he down grade other starts for what they do. I am a fan of his. Can you tell? :blowkiss: He and his beautiful wife are so cute together. People have a right to worship as they see fit. It is when they get in your face and try to stuff it down your throat that makes me mad. :razz: Of course, that razz belongs on the TC thread.

 

[Olivia77]

I used to love Oprah and watch her almost daily with my fiance. Then, about 7 or 8 months ago we noticed that she became very, very condescending with her guests. Everything on her part seemed totally fake and contrived. Now, neither of us can stand her. It happened overnight, it was really weird!

 

[deanws]

You know how he could make a LOT of money for charity?? Allow women to come and have a dance with him for a donation. I love how they try to have him dance in almost every movie that he's in.

Oh!!! Me too!!! I love his eyes also!~