What do you think of Oprah Winfrey as a person?

Question

I really enjoy watching Oprah as a lot of times her show is focused on some interesting subjects.

But, the more that I watch her then the more I am finding that I don't really like "her". Hear me out before you jump to conclusions...

I think pretty much everyone knows that Oprah had a horrific childhood which included abuse (sexual abuse as well). She rose above that and went further than anyone could imagine. Great for her! I still don't think it did much for her personality though.

I feel like she reminds people too much about all the tragedies she had to endure. It is like she is saying "Look at me, I survived something this horrific, rose to the top, but I am still humble enough to talk to "ordinary" people."

Well, plenty of people have had horrific childhoods. And they don't take every opportunity to remind other people how they were victimized.

Here are some examples in her talk shows:

Oprah did a show about a teenager who gave birth, stabbed her newborn son, and her boyfriend dumped the body in a quarry. Here Oprah used the opportunity to explain about her sexual abuse that resulted in a pregnancy which ended in miscarriage. But, she made it very clear that she would have never harmed her baby herself (like the teen did).

Oprah did a show on puppy mills. The show opened with a tribute to her Cocker Spaniel Sophie which had passed away recently. We saw lots of tears and sympathy. How many of us have lost a beloved pet?

Oprah did a show about squalor (people living in dirty homes). This is the first time I actually saw Oprah get nasty and judgmental. Poor Carol was suffering from depression after SIX failed marriages and fell into a squalorous state. Oprah made it sound like SHE would never let her house get into that condition...ya, that is kind of hard to do when you're loaded with money and have a maid to cater to your every whim! At the end of the show she encouraged Carol to get mental help but, didn't offer her some sort of help to get that counseling (Carol had no health insurance).

I like the topics of Oprah's show but, I honestly don't like her. She plays the victim card a lot and she is very judgmental.

What do you think of Oprah Winfrey as a person? Why do you like/dislike her?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Oprah's not perfect but she's done a lot of good in the world so it's hard to not like her. She's literally saved lives, so even when she talks about herself too much or when you can tell she's over-acting, she's totally forgiven. Personally, I love her. It's Oprah!  

Answer 2

I watch the show and think she does a lot of great things for people but I feel that she is egotistical in the way that she discusses things.  It seems like her opinions are the end to all others and gold.  And I don't feel like she is really listening a lot of times to her guests.  Seems like she talks to hear herself speak at times.

Answer 3

Like you, I have mixed feelings.  I think she helps a lot of people, and is probably a very pleasant person in really life.  But I also notice on her show she needs to constantly make the topic about herself (when oftentimes it has nothing to do with her), she seems to think she knows more than she does, and yeah, she does exploit her past for sympathy.

But, I also think it's refreshing how open she is about her life.  I'm sure many others have had similar problems that they feel others don't.  In short, she definitely has gotten full of herself, but in general she's caring and intelligent.

Answer 4

She is just ok,I like doctor phil better.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I think since she's able to talk about her uprise after a crappy childhood, it shows she has high self-esteem and that's good.  Maybe could be a little more humble though.  I don't dislike her....I give her credit for making billions of dollars and building a leadership academy for girls,and being smart enough to rise to stardom and still give to others.  Why not boast about it a little?  Who cares as long as she keeps helping the needy.

Answer 7

Well no matter what she does, and how she reacts to things, or the sometimes insensitive way in which she may seem to act, or like you said, she plays the victim card,   well I still think she means well.

I mean, like anyone can do all sorts of awkward things and say stuff that people may dislike, but its their general motive that we have to look at, and when I look at Oprah, I can honestly say that I believe she is a good-hearted person who means well.

As for all that giving money away and all that, whether it's for showing off, or whatever, you still have to admit that it's helping people, right? (:

Yup so honestly, I think Oprah is a nice person who means well for others.

Answer 8

She's so full of herself.  She seems to think America doesn't know what books to read, magazines to buy, movies to watch, how to get medical aid, etc...if it wasn't for her.

Answer 9

Don't know her as a person so can't judge

She seems pretty generous and pretty kind.

But the one thing I can't stand about her, is the fact when she has someone on her talk show, she is always interrupting

LET THEM SPEAK WOMAN!

Answer 10

I think she is too self absorbed.  Every show becomes about her, no matter the subject.  She has shows on poverty and on other shows she talks about her favorite things, which always include ridiculously expensive clothes, shoes and foods.  She says her name obsessively.  She will ask guests who are dying, "How does it feel to be on the Oprah Show?"

Answer 11

personally i don't have anything against her but i do hate all the credit she gets for giving her money away.

This is cause she may give alot but she gets so much attention for it and credit but then she goes off and spends thousands and thousands on ridiculous stuff, and  i guess its her money but i watched a show on her and some things she splurged on were just sooo stupid.

also i think shes to full of herself and i would never watch her show.

Answer 12

i don't know oprah Winfrey so i wouldn't know what she is like as a person

Answer 13

I know that everyone loves Oprah, but I just don't like her.  She often seems rude on her show, sometimes even uninterested.  Oprah is lacking in interviewer skills in my opinion.