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Home › Entertainment

Oprah Winfrey's All-Girls School Sex Scandal | 03/31/2009 9:40 am

Oprah's Elite School in Second Sex Scandal – Involving Students (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Oprah response to first sex scandal

Several students at Oprah Winfrey’s elite, all-girls school in South Africa may have lost their chance at a quality education.

Seven youths at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls have been suspended in a sexual harassment case, the Telegraph reports. The girls allegedly tried to force pupils into sexual relationships and to fondle each other.

A letter sent to one suspended girl’s parents reportedly read, "You have been found guilty of physical contact of a sexual nature with another pupil on campus, harassment, bullying other girls on campus and of being dishonest by not telling investigators the whole truth."

A spokesperson for the academy confirmed the allegations.

"It is because they contravened the school’s code of conduct," said Lisa Halliday, who wouldn’t elaborate further. "We regard the incident as confidential." 

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy opened in January 2007. Winfrey spent an estimated $46 million to open the school because she "wanted to give this opportunity to girls who had a light so bright that not even poverty could dim that light."

Unfortunately, Winfrey’s dream school has been plagued with sex scandals since it opened. In 2007, the school’s matron was charged in a sex-abuse case, which is still pending. Tiny Makopo has pleaded not guilty.

Watch Winfrey’s response to the first scandal below:

Read more about: News, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, Scandal, Sex, Sexual Harrassment, Sexual Misconduct, Video, World News

9 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

HA BIBI
I suppose as with any buisness, it would be conducive to have more hands on oversight of it, or atleast confidants that are trusted to do this for you.
By HA BIBI on 03/31/2009 9:47 am
Gill Katz

The Oprah school is not far from where I live. It features regularly on the news, and it’s always about some or other sex scandal.
My personal feelings are that

1) Same sex boarding schools for lusty young red blooded kids will inevitably result in experimentation.

2) Where are the counsellors and sex educators?

By Gill Katz on 03/31/2009 9:51 am
Libra Lady
With the poor shape that many of the schools in Chicago and DC are in, maybe the money would have been better spent here helping "our own" and more closely watched by Oprah!!! 
By Libra Lady on 03/31/2009 9:59 am
Lila Kuh

Oprah has been criticized for this since she announced her intent to open the school.  In her defense, she DOES give a lot of money to scholarships, gave to Hurricane Katrina victims, and other charities at home.  Her words on why she chose to open her school abroad and not something similar in the US:

Oprah’s words:  "I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn’t there," she said. "If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."   Source:  http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur30607.cfm

Yes, our schools are in bad shape, but the opportunity is there.  The kids Oprah is trying to help had practically ZERO opportunity.

By Lila Kuh on 03/31/2009 4:59 pm
Belinda Joy
It sounds as if Oprah has done everything she possibly can to assure that the school handles these delicate complaints, in a forthright and responsible manner.
By Belinda Joy on 03/31/2009 10:01 am
L. C.
I agree one hundred percent Belinda Joy!
By L. C. on 04/01/2009 6:29 am
E .

The school is located in a part of the world with vastly different cultures than we are used to in the USA.  Oprah is a wise woman so I can only guess that students interested in enrollment are clearly advised on the "do’s and don’ts" of expected behavior and conformity by students and staff.  If not it would be unfair to the children.  Nothing is perfect - as long as issues are addressed, contained,  resolved and used for prevention in the future the school is doing its job.

By E . on 03/31/2009 11:36 am
jules verne
Just goes to show you that money can’t buy everything.  It can’t buy good behavior and it can’t buy love. I wish Oprah luck in figure out this mess and having her school be a success.
By jules verne on 03/31/2009 6:11 pm
L. C.
Oprah’s money is not responsible for the bad behaviors of these young women! What has Oprah buying love has to do with anything? Oprah was trying to provide an institution of learning for impoverished girls! Girls who would not have been able to afford this opportunity! The shame is these foolish girls risked losing it by displaying disgraceful behavior! The guilty should not be dismissed they should be THROWN OUT! Their places should  then be  filled by girls who truly  want to learn!
By L. C. on 04/01/2009 6:27 am