Oprah Winfrey Blasted for Comments About Protesters
Oprah Winfrey has spoken out about her thoughts on the recent protests in Ferguson and New York City, and her comments have sparked backlash from some of the movement’s organizers.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Winfrey explained what she would like to see emerge from the recent protests against police killing unarmed black males Mike Brown and Eric Garner, but what her comment sparked instead was heavy social media criticism.
“I think it’s wonderful to march and to protest and it’s wonderful to see all across the country, people doing it,” she said in a video interview posted Thursday on the magazine’s Web site. “But what I’m looking for is some kind of leadership to come out of this to say, ‘This is what we want. This is what we want. This is what has to change, and these are the steps that we need to take to make these changes, and this is what we’re willing to do to get it.’”
“I think what can be gleaned from our film is to take note of the strategic, peaceful intention required when you want real change,” added Winfrey, who co-stars in and produced the film about the 1965 civil rights protests.
Organizers and supporters of the current protest took to Twitter to respond to the comments made by the former talk show queen. In the responses, many accused her of being out of touch with the movement and only commenting to promote her film.
Once again a Black ‘celebrity’ shows just how out of touch they are. So, while @oprah searches for an outdated leadership model, #weworkin.
— BrownBlaze (@brownblaze) January 2, 2015
Instead of spreading blind/uniformed criticism try using your ample platform to uplift the unheard names of BW murdered by police, @Oprah. — BrownBlaze (@brownblaze) January 2, 2015
You have been PAINFULLY quiet, @Oprah, until this movie.
— Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) January 2, 2015
. @oprah there are youth orgs set up and ready to roll .. How about some of the black elite sit at the table w/us and discuss our demands ? — Tef Poe/FootKlan (@TefPoe) January 2, 2015
Winfrey did not reply to any of the protestor’s comments on Twitter.
Selma is Winfrey’s latest film, and reflects the civil and racial injustices much like what is happening in America right now. The film opened in limited release on Christmas Day in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington D.C. The wide release with hit theaters on Jan. 9.
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Watch the clip below!
