When you hear the name 'Oprah,' you most likely think of free cars, lots of money and the potential for sainthood. I'm surprised someone hasn't given her the key to the universe yet. She is arguably the most successful black person in history, and is a woman no less.
She has said her greatest triumph was the opening last year of The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. The school offered free education to underprivileged girls in South Africa. The grand opening included celebrities from all over the world and plenty of publicity.
However, in an odd turn of events, Oprah's pet project has been stained by controversy this past week when allegations of abuse surfaced about the school the tycoon takes such pride in.
Several girls have allegedly reported being grabbed around the neck, slammed into walls and verbally abused and at least one girl was said to have left the school because of the serious situation. Oprah has flown into Africa twice to deal with the situation, suspended two matrons and the school's principal and offered a tearful apology.
Winfrey gave the students her personal telephone number and e-mail and mailing addresses when the school opened so they could contact her, South Africa's News24.com said.
"I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Winfrey told parents at a meeting Sunday, according to News24.com.
It is a shame that an act of charity and philanthropy has been tarnished by such negative allegations. Oprah may get some slack for spending hundreds of dollars on eyelashes, but she is one of the few celebrities who has taken an active role in promoting the good treatment of other human beings.
To have three people ruin the good work she has been trying to do in a place that so desperately needs it shows the fine balance that needs to be maintained. The poor choices of some can sometimes overshadow the work of many others. It would be nothing short of a tragedy for the allegations to lead to the closure of the school, the abandonment of the girls and the discontinuation of additional educational movements in South Africa. Let us hope that future projects are not scraped because the people running the show say, "Well hey. Even Oprah couldn't do it."