"No One Can Destroy My Dream"
Filed under: Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey held a live video conference with South Africa on Monday to address the recent child abuse controversy at her all-girls academy.
The talk show titan said she is making major changes at the school.
"We are removing the dorm parents, and as I have said to the girls, (we are) cleaning house from top to bottom," said Winfrey. "My experience with child predators is that no one ever, ever abuses just one child."
Of the whole experience, Oprah shares, "It has shaken me to my core. When I first heard about it I spent about a half-hour going around my house crying.
Though she said she was not responsible for hiring at the school, Winfrey said the screening process was inadequate and "the buck always stops with me."
"What I know is is that no one - not the accused nor any persons - can destroy the dream that I have held and the dream that each girl continues to hold for herself at the school," Oprah said at the news conference. "And I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to make sure that the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls becomes a safe and nurturing and enriched setting that I have envisioned, a place capable of fostering a full measure of these girls' productivity, creativity and of their humanity."
go oprah!
first
awesoem lady..,
simply awesome..
xxx
amen!
first!
first bitch
first
you go oprah, hopefully, the emphasis can be on the girls, not "your dream".
Wow - what a role model for young girls and geezers alike!
FIRST BIZ-ATCHES
oh god.
FIRST!
first?
How can she possible make this SOOOOOOOOOOOO much about her pain when she is not even mentioning what her lack of involvement in the hiring has done to a young girl's life? I'm so over her. Done. Fini.
She's gonna kick some serious ass
Oprah,,take care of those girls.
You are not to blame.
Remind yourself everyday that there is good and bad,and that good ALWAYS WINS.
she should invite all those poor kids to her favorite things episode. or wait–how about doing something for disadvantaged AMERICAN kids? she should open a school in NEW ORLEANS, yes??
Angel!!!!!
This is my home. This is where my business is, my wife, my mother, my family. This is my country, I ain't goin' nowhere.
welcome to africa, oprah
Something about Oprah screams unstable nutcase. So what if the centre she set up had a problem. Why make a fucking scene like it's the end of the world and you life is over. Get over it. What an insecure bitch. Can you imagine being with her 24×7 and putting up with the self importance. Jeez.
All I can say is she is a publicity whore. If the day ever comes when she isn't the centre of attraction it will be the day she ends her life. It's all got to be a drama with her being in the lead role.
Oprah … NEVER GAVE ME SHIT!
IF she likes Africa so much just fucking go move there.
How bout helping out kids in your own country huh?
Do not mess with Oprah!! snap snap lol
Dear, dear Oprah…………..there are so many abused children in this world, and it is sad, very, very sad. The people that are supposed to be protecting children hurt them, and it can last forever.
My cousin was brutually raped when she was only 8 years old by a 30 year old man. He escaped the country, and no one knows where he is. Last heard he was married and living his life.
My cousin unfortunately has to live with that nightmare for the rest of her life. her childhood, her innocence was taken away from her by a monster. Her poor mother will never recover.
I pray that no child will ever be hurt ever , but we do live in a crazy world.
You have the power, the money, you should have had everyone checked and double and triple checked. That child will always live with the nightmare that was put upon her.
I was reading someone had said this is all about you..it is not. It is supposed to be about innocent children that swear in you like a God.
Even though you can not blame yourself, it does not say how people are on their forehead, I hope that somehow you can put a top to this.
And I do not mean just children at your school….I know you always tal;k about your abuse….I respect you for it, but look at all the children in America that are being abused every day while some live in their white castles.
This fat pig deserves every bit of this.
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
wtf
Re: kymama – I really respect that she's taking full responsibility for what happened over there. She's truly amazing and I think she really has her heart and soul in this academy.
In resonse to your comment about opening a school for kids in New Orleans, I have to say that yes, there are some disadvantaged kids in America. But there are even more disadvantaged kids in Africa… who don't have the social services to eat or go to school. There is absolutely no one over there to take care of them… especially if their parents are dead from HIV/AIDS. I hope that answers your question.
#23 . . . when the children in America are in the same situation as the children elsewhere in the world your argument will have merit. The children in the USA have no idea of real poverty like other children in other countries where they are laying in the streets hungry, or handed guns . . . your viewpoint is so small it's sickening.
How about a safe, nurturing and enriched setting for girls someplace here in the U.S ?????
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IS SHE STILL TALKING ABOUT HERSELF…EVEN NOW???
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KIDS GET MOLESTED, AND SHE'S TALKING ABOUT "HER DREAM."
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OPRAH, HONEY, IF YOU THINK SOMEONE MOLESTED KIDS IN ORDER TO GET AT YOUR DREAM……WOW.
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GET ***OVER*** YOURSELF, GIRL!!!
Notice she's not wearing any diamond jewellery? It makes her humble…
How about spending some time and money hiring qualified professionals instead of being so fame hungry, gloating about yourself and your fucking rape school? Believe it or not, you're not jesus!
She can't possibly have her mitts on everything, give her a break.
she is an awful person to use her money to abuse youing children. what a disgrace she is. she is also a sexist and a racist for setting up that type of school. what a filthy disgusting negress she is
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT! OKRA FOR VICE-PRESIDENT?!?!
Re: Ya Whatever –
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CLEARLY…YOU HAVE ***NEVER*** BEEN TO SOUTH AFRICA!!!
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THERE IS NO HUNGER AND IN-FIGHTING THERE!!!
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THAT'S THE *REST* OF AFRICA, SWEETIE. CHECK YOUR FACTS!!!
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MALAWI/KENYA/EHEOPIA: HUNGER AND WAR.
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SOUTH AFRICA: NO HUNGER; NO WAR. I JUST SPENT 3 MONTHS THERE — IT'S FABULOUS, REALLY.
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Oprah is a very phony individual.
It's always about her isn't it? What a cunt.
I LOVE OPRAH
OPRAH IT COULD OF HAPPENED AT ANY SCHOOL YOU KEEP MOVING WOMAN!
A school for African GIRLS….hmmm sounds pretty sexist to me. How ironic that a black woman would do something like this. Sad!
It's OPRAH - of course there are going to be multiple press conferences. Why shouldn't she share her pain? You people are heartless. Oprah is very committed to keeping predators away from children, and now they have struck HER girls. She's not saying these things to GET attention, she already HAS the attention, and she needs to let people know that she is going to try to fix everything. What if she didnt? What if she just sent some assistants down and continued on with her own life and schedule? THAT would make her a cunt.
Her girls experienced what most girls everywhere experience. Being sexually harassed almost comes with being a girl. Almost every single girl I know has been sexually abused in some way, whether as a child by an adult, or as a teenager by a 'friend' or boyfriend. I'm so happy she is giving the issue more publicity and more attention - it needs to be addressed and remedied. No girl is safe, not even in Oprah's Leadership Academy. It's a wake up call, people!
Wipe your tears & cut the talk, woman, PAY THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION NOW
PERSON UNDER "SICK SICK " YOU ARE 100% CORRECT
SHE DEALTH WITH IT IN A PROPER FASHION LAY OFF OPRAH.
Its great that she wants to help out girls in other countries, but what about here in America?? Many kids need a good education here in our own neighborhoods. I am sick of celebs going to other countries to educate and adopt.
who the hell does she think she is ? GOD?
FUCK HER
It looks like in the picture that Oprah is feeling her tits, maybe she should arrest herself for tittie abuse.
I wish I was at that school and could have gotten in on some of that monkey-sex-fun! Next time!
Re: Ya Whatever –
You obviously have never been in a public school and seen kids who smell like urine, don't have clean clothes, dirt under their finger nails, the only meals they have are from the school, and they had to sleep on the floor with 8 other family members in one room. Yes this happens here in America, I am a teacher I see it everyday.
Re: Doe – You are so right that here in America some children don't have anything. I remember that I didn't even have a bed or even a bedroom. Some children live out of shelters if they can get a bed that day. Some families live out of suitcases and sleep outside.
Re: Doe –
Yes, certainly… but are those children AMERICAN?
Re: MissMottin – Oh my god, i can't believe the majority of you people are so completely ignorant and stupid…not to mention racist. I am African, and while I don't think Oprah is perfect, I commend her on what she's trying to do at the school. No, there is no war in South Africa, but there is still the remnants of Apartheid, not to mention poverty that is just devastating. These poor girls are just that….extremely poor! Many people live in cardboard boxes in so called townships and the devastation is just heart breaking. All of you seriously need to educate yourselves in something other than western thought. There is a whole world out there outside of America. And the fact that some of you are so racist is really pitying and disgusting.
BARF.
I will say it again. She is a misandric coont.
Eww. She's such a disgusting megalomaniac Svengali. This whole school seems like promotion for her image. Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy?? Can anyone say that name aloud without a smirk? Do they have a shrine at the school of her and do they hold wakes for her, or ritual slaughtering of lambs to apease godess Oprah. I think Michael Jackson had a similar idea once to soothe his equally gigantic and ignorant ego and had an Michael Jackson University or some such nonsense. And why does it always have to be South Africa, African Americans who are full of Africa but always choose the country that needs help the least and is culturally closest to American culture. If you go African, choose something that is culturally removed from what you know, that only has African languages and French or something and hasn't the whole consumption culture yet of America but not South Africa again. Team Angelina Jolie… she's disgusting too in her self importance but at least she's a bit more intelligent than dumb Oprah
What in the world is wrong with most of you people???? She opens up a school in Africa and this makes her racist and sexist and all of a sudden she's to blame for this horrible tragedy? Yall seriously need to get ur heads checked!
I really wish Oprah would run for President. If you saw her on tv today re: the allegations going on at her school, she was poised, stern, professional. No one fucks with O and she would make an amazing leader of our country!
Screw the cynicism, she's putting her own money into helping to empower disadvantaged women. I think it's highly admirable.
she spent about a half hour crying???? is that a long time for someone like her?????
JUST a half hour?!
how touching.
Re: AmericanAmerican –
In my experience, the majority are American, and a few are immigrants.
Screening is no gaurantee, but narrows down the possibility of nefariousnous.
I keep hearing on various shows how she can't be there, but I think she can hire a trusted confidante to live there, represent her interests, and oversee her school properly for the right price. Oprah holds herself accountable, which is a noble concept; but ultimately, criminal deeds are the property of the criminal, and you can only do your very best to remove opportunity. Of course her dream will not be destroyed. Good must triumph.
C'MON DOES ANYONE SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT SHE DIDNT SET THAT SCHOOL UP TO BE A DISNEYLAND FOR MOLESTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE. GIVE ME A BREAK. SHE DONATES MILLIONS TO IT AND SHE CLAIMS SHE DOESNT KNOW ABOUT THE MOLESTATIONS. GIVE ME A BREAK. SHE SET OUT TO ABUSE THOSE KIDS AT THE OUTSET. THE WORLD JUST FOUND HER OUT BEFORE SHE HAD A CHANCE TO START BUGGERING THEM HERSELF. SHE IS A GUILTY AS ANYONE
You can't dispute she is doing good in the world. I along with some of you don't understand why she doesn't do it here too.
What really impresses me is the people who do good without continually patting themselves on the back and holding news conferences. Plenty 'o people do these things — small and large — under the radar, and those are the people who get my respect.
Anymore, I ignore her, because I see her as a bit sanctimonious (e.g., what she did to James Frey was ridiculous…she could have had those words with him in private, but nooo, it was all about her and how that incident damaged her, which I utterly fail to see).
C'MON DOES ANYONE SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT SHE DIDNT SET THAT SCHOOL UP TO BE A DISNEYLAND FOR MOLESTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE. GIVE ME A BREAK. SHE DONATES MILLIONS TO IT AND SHE CLAIMS SHE DOESNT KNOW ABOUT THE MOLESTATIONS. GIVE ME A BREAK. SHE SET OUT TO ABUSE THOSE KIDS AT THE OUTSET. THE WORLD JUST FOUND HER OUT BEFORE SHE HAD A CHANCE TO START BUGGERING THEM HERSELF. ,,SHE IS A GUILTY AS ANYONE
HAS ANYONE THOUGHT OF SUING HER. THOSE VICTIMS COULD GET A PRETTY PENNY FOR WHAT SHE DID TO THEM
Way to funnel helpless children to the child molesters Oprah. Just when you were starting to feel so good about yourself too. And now you expect them to all stay in your school? Honey, you're part of the problem. Leave the kids alone, you've hurt them enough!
Re: wah fuckin wah ! – you are an asshole loser
Re: Get some perspective – jealous much?
For some reason, I have never liked Oprah. There is something about her that just does not sit right with me. Has anyone ever met someone for the first time, and for some reason you just did not like them even though they have never done anything to you? I have felt this way about her loooooooong before she opened her school.
No child should EVER BE ABUSED sexually or otherwise and the situation at her school should be corrected IMMEDIATELY. Yet, I just can't shake the feeling she is making this more about herself than what happen at the school.
She has done a lot of good for others, but it always comes across to me as "look at me, see what I just did". It's like she's trying to buy people's affections so they can say what a great person she is. It's commendable to do good in the world, but I feel being humble about it is even more commendable.
I agree with Post #17 and #47. It's fine to help someone, but as my grandmother use to say, "clean up your own house first". Start with helping or adopting less fortunate kids in America.
I really think adopting and helping kids in foreign countries by celebs is just the "flavor of the month". When one of them start doing something else to grab the public's attention and get big-time attention for doing it, then the rest will jump on the bandwagon. It's just a matter of time.
Oprah has made these innocent girls victims just like she herself is.
Piss off.
its unfortunate that south africa is the focul point of her madness, they are people in new orleans who are suffering more or just as much as these kids are why isnt she reaching out to them?
If Oprah wants to oversee every aspect of this school and the girls' well-being, then she honestly needs to move the Sout Africa to do it. Can she truly take care of the girls via cell phone on the other side of teh ocean?? What kind of a role model is that?
You people need to grow the fuck up and stop whining like little bitches. Oprah is actually doing something good and all you can think about are the things shes not doing. Yeah, shes rich, but shes not the richest person in the world. She works hard for her money, and does good deeds with it. Unfortunately, she cant help everyone in the freakin world! Of course it hurt her when it happened because she was repeatedly molested and raped as a child. You complain about her not doing anything to help Americans but you dont know shit. Oprah has a foundation that has put many American children through college and she has not asked for anything back in return. And by helping African children, shes racist??? Grow up. You people need to get your facts straight. The reason shes helping African GIRLS is because they are less likely to get an education than the boys. Just like many cultures, they believe that girls belong in the home and boys should get an education which will better them in later life. So is helping girls making her sexist?? Not alot of girls in Africa go to school and shes just trying to make them equal with the boys.
What about other celebrities that make just as much money and wallow in it?? Are they doing anything for anyone else?? NO! If she could help everyone in the world, she probably would, but shes only one person. So why dont you just appreciate the help shes giving now and stop focusing on what shes has yet to do. Are you donating any of your money? Are you helping the kids in New Orleans? Are you putting americans through college? Does any of your money go to cancer research?? Then STFU.
Oprah, this too will pass. You are an incredible role model.
Why doesnt Oprah invest money in some schools here in the states. Im sure her old school district could use some help? She is a fool, this will go on again and again at her school, they are savages over there…
A half hour? wow. That means business. Seriously, everytime she opens her mouth, she sounds like she's trying to deflect blame. "It wasn't my fault." You open a school, you should screen your people. That's why she did this shit in South Africa. If she did it in America, she'd have a lot more answering to do. It's difficult to be a teacher. In America, teachers really do have to constantly look over their shoulders to make sure they can't be sued. Anyway, she never says how sorry she is, she only says in a previous quote, "I'm glad the police matter closed quickly." Well, as long as it's wrapped up all tidy for you.
Poor Oprah, she bit of more than she can chew. Her problems only started now. Ask me. I'm South African.
She needed to help kids in America like the state of Mississippi. That's where she is from.
Re: Joann –
well..hmmmm…what have YOU ever done for the kids of America?…Have YOU ever joined in any charities for children or anyone in need in America, donated money to the poor in America, petitioned President Bush to take heed of the all the needs of struggling Americans FIRST before spending gazillions of dollars overseas in war, or are you just a lazy fuck who likes to sit there and talk about what someone else should do….get off your lazy ass…do something…then point the finger….do some research and learn something about why she cares about Africa so much and why Africa needs us….be proactive instead of hating…maybe if you not just read perezhilton when you wake your ass up in the morning and typed in any other website with current WORLD news you would care about the WORLD and not just where you currently live! STOOPID.
Re: Maya –
Privileged White South African perhaps?
I cant believe how stupid some of people are not to metion racist. you just sitting looking at gossip pages talking shit when you could be looking up information about other nations or one better actually getting off your fat bum and going there for yourself. is it true 75% of Americans dont have passports?? says it all really.