Oprah…Say it Ain’t So!

October 29, 2007     Posted in Buzz, News

Oprah


By Rob

The New York Daily News reports that in recent weeks, several allegations made by students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls claim that school matrons fondled and beat the female students.One incident claims a matron allegedly grabbed a girl by the throat and tossed her into a wall.

Uhhhhh…OK. Look Oprah, when you said you were going to bring western education philosophies to the African continent, I guess we should have asked – which education philosophies? I think we all thought you would leave out the inner city public school philosophy of beating and molesting students out.

My bad…we’ll ask next time.

The allegations came to light after a student ran away from the school’s dorms, reportedly because the abuse had become overwhelming.

“I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Winfrey told families in an emergency meeting on Sunday at the South African school. The school’s principal and two matrons were placed on leave following the allegations.

Over the past few weeks, Winfrey has flown to South Africa twice to deal with the scandal.

Winfrey, who built and opened the school in January 2007, initially gave the students her telephone number and mailing address when the school opened, so that they could contact her directly. Upon opening the $46 million school, Winfrey proclaimed the day as “the proudest, greatest day of my life and a dream come true.”

$46 MILLION! You mean to tell me that with that much money, you can’t find administrators who don’t like to lay the smackdown and gropedown?!

5 Comments on "Oprah…Say it Ain’t So!"

  1. katherine says:
    Mon, 29th Oct 20077:48 am 

    Good article, but I think you are being a bit hard on Oprah- she did a good thing. It's unfortunate that abuse is happening, but as you said "Western Philosophies"- ouch.

  2. Molly says:
    Mon, 29th Oct 20079:27 am 

    A little harsh, but I think it is a bigger problem that American celebrities are like – "Oh…we know better!" Especially when it comes to Africa. Oprah drops $48M and then walks away. The issue is that if you make a promise of better opportunities, you can't just walk away and think your money will work itself. She needs to have more of a hands on approach, and not only when shit goes wrong.

  3. Ali says:
    Mon, 29th Oct 200710:50 am 

    This is another example of a rich american trying to "fix" another country's problem, and in the interim SCREWING everything up. Hey Oprah, stick to giving cars to your audience.

  4. LEE says:
    Tue, 30th Oct 20076:29 am 

    Its great to try to help and there are so many charities that need attention. I just wish more celebs would give to their own country and try to help all the less fortunate and abused kids here in the USA.

  5. loretta says:
    Sun, 25th Nov 20072:00 pm 

    wow

    you guys are making it seem like its oprah's fault the kids got molested.

    molestation is not a western tradition. even in africa kids get molested and raped ….matter of fact in some places its not even seen as something bad….

    how about forcusing on the offender?!

    @ lee whats wrong with helping another country….oprah is black and blacks can trace their roots to africa so whats wrong with helping the mother continent? geez

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