Enough, Already with Oprah's All-Female-Suffering Runup To Precious's Debut

Phillips' story, meanwhile, is the most horrific of them all: A child of Hollywood born into privilege and fame, cursed with an inherited addiction from a father who actively encouraged it, and who, in their drugged fog, coaxed his own daughter into a consensual and ongoing sexual relationship. Too awful for words. Or, at least, too awful for Oprah.

As it happens, all of these stories, but particularly Phillips', tie in nicely with the upcoming explorations of incest, abuse and other manifestations of unbelievably shitty luck heaped upon women in Precious, the brutal movie about an obese, inner-city teen carrying her own father's two children that Winfrey has taken under her wing, and will shepherd to Oscar glory this February.

Is it deeply cynical to suggest Phillips is being unwittingly used as incest victim marketing tool to push a film based on Precious? Perhaps, and it could just as easily be argued that what drew Winfrey to the film is what drew her to Phillips' story, and even the Mermaid Girl's as well: From her very first screen role in A Color Purple, Oprah has been preoccupied with guiding the female downtrodden to their own salvation. It's what led to the founding of the South African Leadership Academy for Girls that bears her name -- making the abuse scandal that erupted there in 2007 all the more painful and ironic.

But let's address a hard fact here: A great deal of money is on the line. It's the thing Winfrey never likes to acknowledge. No matter how much money she accumulates, ratings are necessary to achieve her agenda. Box office success is necessary. Further, my problem with the film, and with a new season overstuffed with female-suffering-themed episodes, is that they are calibrated to secure deliverance, for the subjects and the gawkers, in the shortest number of steps. The victims, across the board, are victims. The perpetrators are the devils. And their suffering is meant to simultaneously make us feel both bad, that such evils exist, and good, at all we have that these women do not.

Enough, already.

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Comments

  • Mike S says:

    Based on Mr Abromovitches take, the season has started with some sensational subjects, but I think it a bit premature to label the season as overstuffed with female-suffering-themed episodes.That being said what is happening is she playing to her audience, which is no diffrent than the male movie director who targets his film towards teen boys or parents and children. It's a greedy world if you make it and they don't come, no one will let you continue to make it. if mr abromovitch does not like it that is what the remote is for. obviously Many many women choose to continue to take the ride daily with Oprah.
    As long as they do she will continue to do what she does best appeal to her audience.

  • ChrisStH says:

    Heavy, man.

  • Pat Forbess says:

    Why do these people wait until AFTER their alleged abusers are dead to come forward with such horrendous accusations? If such a thing really did occur, then talk it over with God, a counselor, or a trusted friend. Don't advertise it to the world when the alleged abuser cannot defend himself/herself. No offense, but when an accuser has spent his/her entire life on alcohol or drugs, I honestly find it hard to believe anything he/she says.

  • stretch65 says:

    ewwwww YUCKY!!!

  • stretch65 says:

    Father's day will always hold a special place in MacKensie's heart...
    EWWWWWWW

  • el smrtmnky says:

    apparently 'the secret' on oprah this year is a whole other can of worms

  • Old No.7 says:

    Look on the bright side... it's ok to eat ham sandwiches again!

  • Lowbrow says:

    Perhaps Shiloh can moonlight as a jewelry designer happily featured on QVC, but I humbly suggest she devote the bulk of her time and resources into what she was truly put on this planet for: to produce & star in an entirely new and fascinating genre of pornography.
    Ms. Pepin, Erotic Sirenomelia™ awaits you.

  • Doug504 says:

    And why did Mr. Abramovitch write this article right now? Because it would bring readers to Movie Line.
    Where they could also learn about the Barbie movie, Tim Burton's movie, Eastwick the TV show, what stars had their movies dumped, Californication, etc.
    All designed to attract readers and bring in ad revenue.
    Frankly, Abramovitch sounds a little jealous that Oprah can deliver the goods (ratings) while he gets a mere 9 comments about his article.

  • Seth Abramovitch says:

    9 comments wins my time slot!