Disenchanted with Oprah Winfrey
Oprah's Appeal is Broad but Her Celebrity is Not Above Reproach
Since 1986 I've watched a number of Oprah's shows and even though I have disagreed with many of her positions or opinions, I still liked her. For years she seemed like someone you could talk to about your differences and still get along. She once felt like someone you could converse with comfortably. Now it appears as though she preaches to, instead of talking with, and that diminishes her charm.
While she may be a Democrat and I'm a Republican, it was not only her endorsement of a particular candidate that weakened her appeal in my eyes, it was that she seemed changed by her popularity and became a little too egotistical. I imagine it must be hard not to think highly of oneself in the face of so much public admiration and success but she used to seem so down-to-earth and that was what made her so attractive.
As the years go by it appears as if Oprah feels celebrities are up on her level and the rest of us aren't. For instance, on many occasions if an audience member shared an opinion that differed from Oprah's, Oprah would preach to that person until the audience member either admitted that Oprah was right, or sat down and said no more.
I have no right to criticize Oprah Winfrey as a person, but I do take issue with her celebrity. She has millions of fans (of all political persuasions) that have come to know her through the entertainment industry; as someone in the spotlight she should be mindful and respectful not to alienate the fans who don't share her political beliefs. Its one thing to be fair and to give equal time to all points of view, its another when she endorses one candidate or political party above the others when how she got to where she is today is due to the support of all her fans.
Oprah once seemed a person able to unite, now she is becoming more divisive and that's a shame because no matter where one stands, at one time Oprah seemed fair and that was part of her amazing appeal.
Published by Donna H. Davey
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6 Comments
Post a CommentShe is no longer at the mercy of a large crowd for fame and fortune. She already has a fortune. Now she can totally be herself, the real her.
I've been an avid watcher of Oprah for years, but my issue is that she seems to have a lot of white females in the audience and they act so giddy and stupid. It seems she's not sitting well in the AA community since she seems to have a disdain for blacks. Yet she's not one of those blacks who up and sold their stuff for money like the guy who founded BET did and sold it to a company ran by Jewish people. The sad thing is that Oprah is starting to forget where she came from and sometimes it takes a lot to break her down to get her to really recognize things that need to be put out there.
You're right! I started watching the show in the mid 80s and I loved her-she wasn't like any other talk show hosts I'd ever seen. Now she acts as though she is our spiritual mentor. And you're right also about her preaching- heaven help anyone who doesn't agree with her opinions! They're wrong and she (or the author of the latest book that's impressed her) is right! I don't watch her anymore since the big campaign alignment, but I do miss some of the great experts (not her, of course) that she'd have as repeat guests on the show.
I agree. i can't stand the woman.
Very good article - The value people are putting in Oprah's opinion is getting scary. Wake up call - she's a celebrity. Many celebrities, as friendly as they seem to people, are "out of touch" in their own way with how "regular" people think and live. And, she's become much more judgmental, such as verbally attacking and shutting down an audience member who (when the microphone was actually being taken through the audience) gave an opinion that Jesus is real.
I agree and I pray I didn't come across as judging her. She really sets herself up high, that is for sure.