“I really feel duped…I regret that phone call [to CNN’s Larry King Live on 11 January to defend as true the million little lies of author James Frey]….I made a mistake and I left the impression that the truth does not matter and I am deeply sorry about that. That is not what I believe.”
That’s how Oprah apologized on her show yesterday: to her viewers and the millions of people who bought James Frey’s best seller – A Million Little Pieces – based on her literary edict. (I had this show TiVoed. And, instead of watching Catherine and her team on CSI Las Vegas last night – one of only 2 hours of entertainment television I deem worthy of my time each week [the other is 24 ], I watched Oprah. Because there’s nothing I would not do for you – my dear reader!)
At any rate, I appreciate how difficult and embarrassing this episode was for Oprah. But she has now reclaimed a large measure of the respect I once had for her.
But, I’m still a little bothered. Because the show came across as little more than the futile attempt by an indignant and frustrated mother to discipline a problem child. I’m sorry but getting Frey to tell the truth seems about as likely as drawing blood from a stone.
Oprah interrogated him about the people, events and circumstances in his book for all she’s worth. And I got the distinct impression that she could barely contain her contempt for Frey; not only for exploiting her so comprehensively but also for showing so little comprehension for what he has done and for the pain he has caused.
And when she asked if he perpetrated this notorious literary fraud “to make a better book or make him a better person”, Frey offered his now patented demurrer – “I think it’s probably both” and conceded pathetically that:
“…being tougher than I was, badder than I was as a “coping mechanism.”
No shit!
But to her credit, Oprah summed up her apology (and this group therapy session, which I suspect will make it the most watched show of her career) with this more gallant concession:
“To everyone who has challenged me on this issue of truth [like me], you are absolutely right [but] the inspiration the book brought to so many people had clouded my judgment.”
Nonetheless, I am constrained to challenge Oprah further about the consequences of her monumental lapse in judgment. Because, although “the truth is liberating”, I wonder what consequences she will be made to bear.
(Incidentally, for Frey, yesterday’s show was probably just a great promotional opportunity to sell another million copies of his book. And, yes, people will buy it just because it’s such a terrific scandal. However, I really couldn’t care any less about him.)
I got a palpable sense from watching though that Oprah has been deeply affected by being so “duped.” Indeed, her defensiveness in this regard may have accounted for the fact that this preternaturally empathetic woman never bothered to ask the (still) obviously-troubled Frey if he plans to finally get the therapy and treatment he so desperately needs!
As for consequences, perhaps offering a charitable gift in the amount equivalent to what Frey has made off this book would help. But I have to think that making Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel’s “Night” an instant bestseller last week – after announcing it as her next Oprah book selection – has great redemptive value….
Note: There can be no more convincing evidence that Frey remains a conniving, unrepentant and mendacious sociopath than when Oprah revealed – towards the end of the show – his pathetic attempt to lay a guilt trip on her by suggesting that if there was a gun backstage, he’d go and blow his brains out. Well, if Oprah were any less a person, she might have replied: “Actually, there is….”
Technorati: Oprah, James Frey, A Million Little Pieces
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Anonymous says
Mr. Frey looked as much a “junkie” yesterday as any other professional white collar junkie that we know. This was all that you descibed and more. One has to wonder though that being a seasoned journalist herself why did’nt Oprah’s staff research the authenticity of this “memoir” before she came to such a great defense.
Kathy says
Anthony
Your review of this show is brilliant. I too wondered about the “consequences”. I also agree with the first commenter that Frey still looks and behaves like a “junkie”.
Sorry you missed out on CSI last night. It was a great episode. Did you Tivo it?
gotdetroit? says
Writers write. And lie. Embellish. Even in so-called non-fiction. They twist things to fit their personal tastes. Frey did this, but in the guise it was all truth. There is a certain limit to the amount of embellishing when “truth” is at stake. If this would have come out as a work of fiction from the get-go, there is nothing to bitch about. But he blew smoke up our ass, and we’re all a little pissed at being duped. Personally, the guys a douchebag.
Unsaid says
I totally agree with the comments here. My biggest issue with it all is that he supposedly used unconventional means to supposedly overcome his addictions. So you know that people were thinking they could overcome their addictions “the Frey way” when Frey didn’t do things the Frey way! He set others up for failure…not just himself.
Anonymous says
Riveting television? Oh please! That was Oprah being OPRAH. Shall I say it was infotainment in the bizarre world of “truthiness.”
Anonymous says
“towards the end of the show – his pathetic attempt to lay a guilt trip on her by suggesting that if there was a gun backstage, he’d go and blow his brains out. Well, if Oprah were any less a person, she might have replied: “Actually, there is….”
Lying sack of shit! I would be more than happy to provide him with a revolver.
Despite his unorthodox road to “Recovery???” I so wanted to believe that what this guy wrote was true. Like I said in a previous post…put me down as one of his fools.
Noel