Oprah & Nelson Mandela at school opening earlier this year. ( Photo: Khetha “Bouga” Mkhize )
A tearful Oprah Winfrey apologized on Monday to students and parents amid abuse allegations at her exclusive $40 million South African school for girls, the Independent reports. “I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry,” the talk show host said. A school matron stands accused of grabbing one girl by the throat and fondling another, while Winfrey suspended the principal for failing to respond.
Winfrey’s boarding school for underprivileged girls was intended as a model for the world, but the claims of abuse have led to soul-searching and recriminations. The allegations surfaced after one student ran away and told her family the situation had become intolerable. Winfrey has given the alleged victims her personal phone number and e-mail.
oprah should’ve built some schools in america too, because some of these ghetto projects look just like africa in some parts…..hopefully she’ll do something like that in the future, but this is a sad story. Try do something good, but there’s always someone somewhere trying to mess something up
How sad! All of the girls that were mistreated/abused in the process are in my prayers.
Oprah Winfrey has done so much for families in General. We see her as a Black Woman rising in America. But the world sees her as a pillar of hope and I adore her stregth and her love to make things happen.
Sheesh, try to do something good with your money, and you still get backlash…You can’t win for loosing these days.
It’s sad what (allegedly) happened to the little girl. But I don’t want to hear any Oprah bashing because umm, she didn’t HAVE to open the school in the first place, and I’m sure there’s more good than bad that is coming from the opening of this school.
The fact that Oprah’s personally keeping in touch with the girl says something also.
Someone always finds a way to mess things up, I still believe that building the school was a good idea. I hope that Oprah does not let the incidents discourage her from helping others.
This is ridiculous……how can we expect to educate our youth when the ADULTS are so fucked up! You would think the educators at this school would actually be positive influences on these girls, but unfortunately one crooked soul squeezed through the bunch!
Laughing Out Loud
This is Oprah, she gives the victim her personal number and e-mail AS IF it will solve the issue.
I understand that Oprah cannot be there to see what’s going on and there’s no such thing as “the best of the best” teachers because we can’t tell what teacher is a child molester. We simply have to go by their credentials. This is a sad story, true indeed. But money can never change nor get rid of the amount of soulless crazy fucks who seeks out to destroy other people lives. Especially children who never meant any harm in the first place.
Sorry but I have to #1. Your comment (some parts of NY look like Africa) Educate yourself before you post any comment. Many parts of Africa is more developed than the US states. What needs to change is the mentality of the people. That is why the school is over there. The government is ran by power hungry officials. It is the the area that is decript, it is the people. Education is what will halp them rise above it. Our government gives money to educate us. I suggest you start utilizing it!
Keep doing good Oprah, wherever you can whenever you can, that little bad cannot outdo all the good you have done for our people, Fight The Power!
After she said that all inner-city kids want material things and not an education, she went to Africa where they don’t care about those things. Pardon me, but the school she built is very much built like a “material” thing.
If they built an average school, no one would come.
Karma is a bitch.
Dang #8….
She did say SOME parts…..key word “SOME”. And where in the hell did you get NY from? You just read what you wanted to and ran with it, my girl didnt even mention NY.
You have bad people and bad situations eerywhere and anywhere you go -
Money, power and prestige does not make you exempt to the problems of your environment. There are mean people everywhere — this is not about geography – it’s about an adult who was irresponsible and abusive and other adults who did not protect the children and hold each other accountable.
As soon as Oprah was made aware – she handled it. And I read reports that she gave all of the students her contact information so that they understood if they stayed and were uncomfortable about anything they could contact her directly.
As someone of West African ancestry, I feel that Oprah should have been on top of what is going on in her school. Don’t get me wrong cuz I’m a HUGE fan of Oprah but its common knowledge that MANY children are routinely physically, vebally, and sexually abused. My parents are both products of private boarding schools in Africa and have stories of beatings and known sexual abuse of students. I think this scandal will force Oprah to understand the weight of the responsibility she has assumed.
Also why would Oprah built schools in the US. I am really sick of BLACK AMERICANS not being grateful for what they have. You may have hard struggles here (so do I) but don’t mistake being impoverished in Africa as equal to being impoverished in the US.
THis is so sad and horrible for the victims. But Oprah How and Why do you blame yourself?
u know….i dont care too much for oprah…….but this isnt her fault,she just had some people that could not be trusted working for her……..she just needs a better interviewing process,but i hope things work out…..i mean the school was a good idea so i dont wanna see it go down the drain.
@14 I agree why blame herself the fact
that is upset show the type of heart she has. I’ll pray for the girls.
How the hell is this Oprah’s fault? She is a billionaire businesswoman; she can’t be everywhere at once. The fault lies with the people who committed the crimes. Slick criminals sometimes slip through the cracks. Hopefully this won’t discourage Oprah or any of the young South African girls with continuing their mission. As for Oprah building an American school, she may as well light her money on fire.
This is just a thought and not meant to be negative:
Will the powers that be one day use events like this to crumble Oprah’s credibilty and empire if she ever stepped on the wrong toes?
She has done so much for so many but knowing how people love to tear down someone who does extremely well makes me wonder if this will ever be attempted on her. I know she will rectify this situation without a doubt and I do not hold her responsible in the strictest sense of the word because she can’t be everywhere all of the time, but what an opportunity for the powerful forces behind the spotlight to step in and try to unravel her world.
I hope she has her feelers out there and is aware of those entities.
She is a good woman with a good heart but we have many in the world who are not.
Just a thought.
I support her whole heartedly in all she does, my only issue with her is how she appears to snub the hip hop community. But that is a in house Black “family” issue!
What do you all think?
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i hope that this situation is resolved and that the school can return to the business of educating and uplifting!
AND THIS TO SHALL PASS! I’M SORRY ABOUT THIS MESS AND PRAY FOR ALL INVOLVED.
This is a sad situation…its like dang can we get some good to come out of anything. Somebody is always there to tear something down or degrate something positive that someone is trying to do..Its a shame.
Oprah is not able to travel on the whim everytime there is an issue in Africa. She should have considered that her school would be put under watchful eyes and should have no blemish.
she should have created a school in Chicago, bmore, ny and new orleans etc. this way should could have a closer say on the happenings.
Her thought was in the right place. However the execution was very off.
Keep trying Oprah
Fuck all yall. Oprah is not at fault. Oprah’s was in America when that certain someone in whole nother country made a decision to allegedly violate possibly 2 girls. It was NOT Oprah but at least she’s showing sympathy and full cooperation – TOTALLY HANDLING IT. Don’t mean the program stopped. Plus, understand that media..talks about things after it occured…this matter should be resolved by now.
Oprah shouldn’t blame herself, but I guess she feel responsible since she picked the staff. You never really I mean really know who you can trust. I just pray for those little girls and hope that they come out alright in this situation.
Oprah isn’t to blame. She is doing something amazing for those girls. It’s pathetic that some of the staff decided to take advantage of their position of power. How sad.
That’s sad. That person should be ashamed of themself for even stooping that low.
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First of all Oprah never intended to “run” the school – she provided the funds to open and operate the school, but she is no more qualified to run an educational institution than anyone else who has not had the education, training and required certifications.
She worked with a team of experts to hire the employees for the school – this is no different than the many teachers, principals and school staff here who are abusing and having sex with their students, but because it’s Oprah and Oprah’s school, it’s like it never happens, and it’s all on her.
Doesn’t matter if the school cost $40 million dollars or Forty cents, the people who are guilty and should be blamed, are the people who abused these girls – period.
Sounds like the same type of ish that goes down in many public schools.
oprah SHOULDNT be blamed but its kind of ironic that she didnt build a school over here because of the FASCINATION that “we supposedly” have with MATERIAL THINGS but look at what those sick fcks are doing over there.
Anyone leaving comments directing anything negative towards Oprah is crazy to me. This type of thing could happen anywhere. I think she is handling it the best way she knows how. Opening a school for little girls is a positive and life changing thing. It is unfortunate what happen if that is what happen. My prayers to the girl and her family.
This is truly a sad situation. My prayers will go out to those victims who have suffered. And for those who claimed that Oprah should have built a school here in the states; I think this was a message to show us that all of us have everything at our disposal when it comes to getting an education in the U.S. You can get financial aid to help you pay for college, but some choose to use their grant check to buy clothes and other items that they really don’t need. People decide to put H.S. or college off for a few months or even years, why, because they can always go back whenever they want to. I applaud Oprah for building a school in Africa because the children there honestly don’t have the same options that we have here. Point blank!
she shoulda hooked da’ schools in the hood up.really help out!but i guess she like i ain’t wastin’ my money on dat’.oplus, i hear not any girl could go to that school.a chosen few…who she personally hand picked.Ain’t dat’ a….
This is an unfortunate situation.
But Oprah may be a little hard on herself by saying that she’s disappointed the children. She can’t blame herself for things others have done. All she can do is help rectify the situation.
IGNORANT !!! FYI, the USA has statistically more child abuse cases than South Africa … as a matter of fact 4 innocent kids die here in the US because of child abuse EVERYDAY !!! WAKE UP !! And BTW, O’s school is not ‘special’. There are over 2000 private schools in South Africa alone with facilities that compare to O’s school. I know, because I was born & raised in SA !!! Americans don’t even have to pay to school whereas in most parts of Africa parents have to fork out hard cash to send their kids to school … except at O’s school.
#29
what are those “sick f*cks” doing over there that some really sick f*cks aren’t already doing OVER HERE! That just sounded real ignant to me.
Oprah is right. Not too many kids in America take advantage of their academic opportunities. She decided to spend HER MONEY on something she believed in.
You spend your money on whatever you want.
This is so sad. Man Oprah trying to do some good for the lil girls In africa and unfortunately there are perverts everywhere lurking on young kids. I know Oprah is hurt especailly since she was also abused at a young age, ya know. I bet she is going to do something really special for that girl and her family. God bless the abused child and I hope that doesn’t keep her from continuing her education at oprah’s school once the adults involve have been dealt with.
Sad to see/hear such things when all O wanted to do was do some good. We live in the land of opportunity where young girls CAN go to school and choose not to. O wanted to give a chance to girls that may not be able to educate themselves, she wanted to set a precedent… why do we fault her for that?
Too sad. Being that she was abused as a girl, I’m sure Oprah is beside herself behind this mess. Idiots are always ready to mess up what good people do. I hope it all works out.
I’m sorry to hear about what happened. I feel so sad for the children in these situations, who can they trust. I suppose that’s the reason why oprah feels that she has disappointed them because it is her school and i assume measures were taken to ensure these girls were in a safe environment and then you find out that isn’t the case you are going to feel some responsibility. But then again it may be the case that someone didn’t want the school to be a success – who knows.
I pray for the victims…..theres so many sick people out there….its sad!
But I do believe that more enrichment schools should be created for the underpriviledged….and Oprah should not be the only one opening her wallet! What about all the rich people in the industry????
Too busy putting rims on their cars and ice on their necks….smh!!!!
@10 I think for the sake of society, you should find one of TI’s guns, press it against your temple and pull that trigger… no need for you to be wasting good air by breathing
To those of you who seem to feel that Oprah has not done enough to help black people in this country or who are just plain critical of her period. I am going to suggest to you what I have done with others who always have something negative to say about her.
1. Pray for her if you can and know how to pray.
2. Whatever it is she has not done and the you do the part she is not doing.
Also I read the full article two days ago in the New York times and it stated she gave a special phone number, a e-mail address to all of the girls to contact her personally from here on out at anytime.
Well, its also good to see the internets world renowed gossip blogs judge and jury is once again in full force. Have a great day I am out of here I have a plane to catch!!!
…AND YOU BETTER SAY THAT GIRL…..THAT’S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT INSTEAD OF ALWAYS FLAPPING OUR GUMS THEN IF SHE IS NOT DOING ENOUGH THEN THE ONE RUNNING THEIR MOUTS SHOULD DO IT…AND ANOTHER THING THAT IS HER MONEY……CAN’T ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO SPEND YOUR PAYCHECK SO SHE CAN DO WITH HER MONEY WHAT SHE LIKES.
ANOTHER THING AT LEAST SHE IS NOT ON THE INTERNET EVERYDAY JUDGING AND TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE SHE IS TRYING TO DO SOME GOOD WHTERHER YOU APPROVE OF IT OR NOT!!!!!
YOU GO OPRAH,A ND I PRAY YOU HAVE MUCH MORE SUCCESS!!!!!
ANGEL PROBABLY DON’T LIKE OPRAH EITHER!!!!!! I JUST HAVE A FEELING, BELIEVE IT OR NOT A LOT OF BLACKS DON’T LIKE HER!!!!!!
I seriously don’t understand people on this site, on one breath they will tear down the likes of Oprah, Bill Cosby and Al Sharpton, who do nothing but try to encourage us to do better for ourselves, but then on the other hand, its nothing but love to fools like TI who reinforce negative stereotypes of us.
We need help…
I watched that special when she opened the school…and I was never a big Oprah fan until then. That school is absolutely something she did from her heart, with her own money.
I don’t know if Oprah said it outright, but I know Bill Cosby did…black children don’t appreciate or take advantage of the opportunities they have. There are great educational opportunities in the “hood,” but our parents and children are so much more concerned about how they look, what they have, having the latest shoe and designer clothes – they don’t take advantage of them.
I was one of the people skeptical about why Oprah chose to open the school in Africa and not the US, but after seeing the special, I understood why she did it, and where he heart was when she did it.
And it’s sad that a few bad apples really can spoil a bunch. And even though Oprah is not personally responsible for anything that has happened, I’m glad she’s chosen to take personal responsibility for the actions of those who worked for her – shows her strength of character. She didn’t have to do it, but she did.
this is really unfortunate. i feel bad because i thought this was going to be a great experience for the little girls
some people are mad cuz’ they hate the fact she built something in africa, not here in america.
i know for a fact that we do not like our africans cousins very much.
We ‘re all one. united we stand. GO OPRAH
It is always sad to here something like this,But my heart and prayers go to the girls and their family.oprah’s dream was to built a safe inviourment for those girls so that they can learn and become leaders of this generation ,and she is doing that.her heart is strong and her pain is palpable and it hurts me to see her sad or have her crying.man oprah should no blame her self for what some one else did,she is a strong proud woman with a heart that she shares with us and her girl.SO KEEP YOUR HEAD UP OPRAH AND YOUR DAUHTERS TOO PEASE MY SISTAH.
(sigh) This is sooooo sad man. This was supposed to be something positive something uplifting…but it’s as gotten nothing but negative criticism since the day it opened.
I disagree with # 1.. I feel that a significant number of black children/teenagers in America DO NOT value education the way these kids do. All they want to do is get rich quick, and they want to do it the easy way..they do not realize the importance of working hard and having a good education (especially if you ae African American)….
The world is messed up man..and its getting worse and worse everyday
oprah isn’t the blame she did nothing wrong plus its a blessing that she used her OWN money to help others in poverty. and for yall sayin she should have put a school in the u.s instead are off because those girls would have had no chance of getting a good education where they are while out here in the projects we got they’re are still some chances those kids have of making a name for themselves plus if she did many of those kids wouldn’t appreciate it
i don’t give a damn about oprah and her schools, i care about the schools right here in the u.s. the only schools that suck in the u.s. are majority black kids, but the hell with them, they don’t want shit but some new sneakers (per oprah). so i will spend my time and energy helping the poor black kids that are for some reason killing eachother and can’t even think about getting out there messed up situation to go to a private school.. But no one cares about that, africa is not as hungry as you people think it. Some you need to take a damn trip to africa. so fuck oprah and her little show off school. because i am not impressed, there’s bigger problems for me to worry about right here. Take care of home first.
yo school teachers and principles be the worst ones they don’t care about students sometimes i think they just take the job to hurt us (im in school)
keisha shut ya negative ass up
DJ,
You shut up, because you dont’ do shit but talk shit.
I have a right to my opinion and i’m going to voice it if you don’t like it go kill yourself because i wouldn’t shed a tear you fucking sell out.
wasnt she the one that sed that American gurls cant appreciate sufin like dis lolol well seem like dats every where …… always take care of home first oprah ….i thought you knew dat …..shut the dam school down and build one in every state right here in a America and you can keep in eye on shit but dont put down the hands whose parents fed yo ass O.
# 51 keisha i agree wiff you 100%,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, so dj shut you bitch ass up for commenting.. because there is nuffin negative about what she sed lolo
@Keisha and all the other Haterss
To all y’all saying she should take care of home first, WHERE IS HOME?
A lot of places do not have a decent education: central europe,Asia, Africa. If I was rich I would start with the worst place first: AFRICA. I am AFRICAN and I went to the so called Best High school in my country, and guess what? It is not even close to the most ghetto school in America. In America you guys have so much infrastructures, it is ridiculous. Parents are not just responsible here, that’s what it comes down to. Parents do not want to be harsh on their kids and force them to study hard. Growing up my parents always told me that hard work is the only way out of poverty. I wanted to play ball and dress fancy but they never let me, I was mad then but today I reap the fruit. Here, parents just don’t give a shit, don’t come to meeting and then bitch about the school system. how funny is that??
As parents check your kids homework, talk to the teachers, talk with your kids, tell them how hard it is out there for people who do not have degrees.
People are talking like Oprah has never done anything for African-americans. Look online and see how much money she gave to HBCUs, I do not know anyone who take their time and money to do such thing.
If I were Oprah, I wouldn’t have built a school here in america either. Think about it. Here in america we have so many opportunities and resources to succeed but they are not taken advantage of. Drop out rates are extremely high, unfortunately in our Black communities. In Africa, they look at an education as a luxury and priviledge to have. Face it, here in America many take education for granted.
And Oprah can’t be blamed in any type of way for what happened in her school. Was the person who built the Catholic churches blamed when the Priest were fondling young boys in them? I love Oprah…..even if she don’t like Hip Hop.
#51 I thought the same thing at one point when i first heard about oprah helping outin africa, but i though why should oprah have to be the one to uplift our black community, these are things that we should be demanding from our country, “land of the free” we pay taxes here. we shouldn’t have to beg our country to take care of us.
as for the molesting in the school systems, i’m sure it’s been going on much longer than we know. it’s a shame
Interesting, Oprah was ready to diss American blacks and go to Africa to show the world something. . .there she goes and got taught a lesson her damn self. Bitch bad things happen everywhere