When Oprah Winfrey talks, people listen. To be chosen to be on her staff can't be something most people would take lightly or consider abusing, but apparently the media maven's long arm doesn't reach into every corner. Parents of students attending her all-girls school in South Africa were recently given a tearful apology from Oprah herself after allegations of abuse came to light at the school. One student even ran away due to the mistreatment by a dorm matron (whose employment has apparently been suspended, along with another woman's). Another woman, the school's principal, has been placed on a paid administrative leave while investigators do their jobs.
Are the tears necessary? Is Oprah covering her tracks due to potential liability issues?
I'd like to think that her care for the girls attending the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is genuine. I tend to assume, as a woman and a mother, that Ms. Winfrey is legitimately distraught by this situation. After all, she personally interviewed each applicant to the school. One would assume that she would feel a connection with the girls who were ultimately chosen to attend classes there and would feel protective of, and responsible for, them.
On the flip side, Oprah Winfrey is an actress - an entertainer - and a darn savvy businesswoman to boot. I'm sure folks could legitimately wonder if she simply knows what to say and when to say it in order to place responsibility on her staff for any missteps. Frankly though, unless the allegations were made against Oprah herself, one would be hard-pressed to say much more than that, unless she were actively running the school's day-to-day efforts in house.
Personally I think she's played the role of manager properly - assuming responsibility for the actions of her staff, dealing out a hand of consequences for those involved, and promising to get to the bottom of the issue. If nothing else, Oprah knows how to keep a PR nightmare from unfolding around her.
Melonie,
I think my reactions were the same as yours and I agree that Oprah is probably genuine about caring for the students at her school. It is important to note that Oprah's response to the situation is definitely a smart PR move but that does not mean it is disingenuous.
Posted by: Kimberlee Morrison | October 30, 2007 11:54 AM | Permalink to Comment