Friday, February 3, 2012 9:58pm EST Make this your Home Page | RSS rss

Why does Oprah embrace Bebe Winans, but reject Chris Brown?

Joni L. Reynolds | Posted November 5, 2009 8:10 AM

When it was revealed that Chris Brown had beaten his then girlfriend Rihanna, Oprah said Rihanna should leave Brown alone. Oprah took a strong stand against domestic abuse.

On several occasions Brown has said that he was disappointed at Oprah's response. He felt she should have reached out to both he and Rihanna, but Oprah chose not to.

So why does she continue to embrace Bebe Winans? He allegedly pushed his ex-wife down in front of his pre-teen children. He was arrested the day before Oprah Winfrey spoke out on abuse on her show. So why is BeBe is hosting "Oprah's Karaoke Challenge"?

Is it because we all saw the bruised picture of Rihanna? Is it the lack of visible proof of abuse that makes this different? Is it the fact that Winfrey has been friends with the Winans family for years?

Domestic abuse cannot be tolerated even if it does leave a mark. Abuse is abuse. There are no acceptable degrees, and if Winans is found guilty he is an abuser just like Chris Brown.

[Original Entry]

Joni L. Reynolds, an African-American mother, writes a blog called Ebony Mom Politics.

E-mail

Comments 25

Jeniffer
2009-11-05 10:15:29

I believe and support your view an abuse is an abuse. It not what or how he did it.He should be condemned in the same way.pLse Oprah DO not change your view about abuse let it be condemned in the same way.

Terra
2009-11-05 10:46:28

I don't think Bebe is hosting anything on Oprah's show. And Bebe is innocent until proven guilty. There's no evidence that he pushed anyone. And no abuse should be tolerated, but there's a world of difference between bashing a girl's head in to the point that she's unconscioused & her face is swallowen purple & pushing someone without doing any injury at all. Both are terrible, but don't minimize what Chris Brown did by suggesting that both are equal. And just because Oprah personally felt Rhiana should leave Chris, does not mean she should never have domestic abusers on her show. Oprah is a talk show host & it's her job to have people of all walks of life on her show even serial killers.

amaya
2009-11-05 11:08:43

I think that Oprah is being a real hypocrite. Why should she have Winans on the air if he's been accused for the same thing. Terrence Howard has been on her show and has been accused as well.

Taryn
2009-11-05 12:39:49

Do you ppl hear yourselves??? Being accused is different than being 'PROVEN' guilty! idiots! As Terra stated, she is a talk show host...and besides its her own show so she can have who she wants when she wants. And for Chris Brown to get his egotistical butt on the air saying what he did for Oprah...He needs to sit down b/c without him she would still be a billionaire and international icon! Ppl are so ignorant taking up for him and passiving his wrongs. He was stupid and now he's been held accountable..Point Blank! When you F up, you get caught up! I hope his career takes a beating... the same way he was so bold to put his hands on Rih the way he did

illwill
2009-11-05 13:04:25

Oprah would not have had Chris on the show after the incident even if he was on trial. If you remember correctly, Oprah commented on domestic abuse before Chris plead guilty of the crime, so whether he guilty or innocent, he was already guilty according to Oprah. Oprah is a successful woman who has done alot of great things for her country and the world, but it doesn't mean that she will always make perfect decisions, which is the reason why people have to stop relying on Oprah or any other well known celebrity to influence their opinions about certain topics. Some people feel that because Oprah said it, then it's the bible, and that just isn't accurate. Mike Tyson went to prison for rape and he has admitted that he even struck his ex-wife; he was on Oprah after the Chris Brown incident. So you have to back up your facts before speaking for or against her.

charique
2009-11-05 15:10:33

Thank you illwill and taryn. i am so sick on ppl saying Chris "made a mistake" like he accidentally bashed her head in. He knew what he was doing when he left her on the street to fend for herself so I have no problem with Oprah. CB is not worth it. He did not come off as remorseful on Larry King or those silly videos he put out. He just wants to sell albums and make $$$, period. PPl like Diddy and Micheal Baisden can try to sugar coat if they want but let someone hit their daughters like that.

Muffy
2009-11-05 17:06:07

Rihanna's face was fine the next day! Cut the bullcrap! She's the only person in history who was almost killed, but her face was healed within a day. lmao

amy
2009-11-05 17:47:25

Oprah is a hypocrite, Bebe is a grown man and Chris was still 19 years old when this happened. people should leave Chris alone.

Shayne
2009-11-05 17:48:46

There is no good reason to hit anyone, male or female. However is hitting the only form of abuse? This seems to be such a serious offense (it is), yet there are ways that women abuse their mates. Words , manipulation and attitudes and no one wants to speak to these things. Why is it that when a man uses words that are abusive, it is wrong yet no one ever mentions it when a woman does? Are men less human? I think we all should be calling for justice whenever wrong is done and not just when it is done to a woman.

olivia houseworth
2009-11-05 20:34:13

i think that chris deserves another chance because he is a wonderful person and a outstanding singer and he hasnt lost all of his fans. chris brown is funny, handsome,sweet, kind, loving, and romantic. he just got blind sided by love and it was just a misunderstanding i wish i could be chris brown girlfriend and i can show everybody what kind of person he is. chris i wanted to let you know that you have my full support and i love you and your music

caroline
2009-11-05 22:01:09

Chris was only 19, so if anyone could've been helped by Oprah it was him--he still has a lot of growing and learning to do. A good mentor is probably what he needs since he was raised in an abusive household with his stepfather. Oprah really turned me off with her Chris Brown comments.

cindy
2009-11-05 23:45:57

Chris Brown is still under 21, he has a lot of growing up to do and a lot of mistakes to make before he can be perfect. I am one of his biggest fans, with a lot of money he is still humble- i wish him the brighest of all times- Oprah is such a hypocrite, but, according to the scriptures- "vengence is my say's the Lord." Let god be the greatest judge. Please people do not cast stones For one day that same stone is going to bounce back and hit you in the face, he has apoligised to everyone else now the only person he need to concentrate on is God. Like he said he is a man, let's respect that.

trujohnson
2009-11-06 02:58:32

y is it people go lyk crazy when a guy hits a girl. its wrong but 1. the girl must hve dun sumthin wrong 2. girls hit and even kill guys all the time ?????????????????????????????????????????????

qmonet
2009-11-06 05:41:10

Chris Brown was wrong in putting his hands on Rihanna, but it is a proven fact that an abuser was abused at some point. Chris has to address the fact that he was abused and witnessed abuse before he can move forward. Only the Lord and counseling can help him. I don't want to throw him under the bus like most people are doing. Oprah feels so strongly about the situation because she was abused, so of course she isn't going to agree with what Chris did. He can turn his life around just like many other people have, but we have to remember no one is perfect and all have fallen short. Let God be his judge!!

dora osok
2009-11-06 10:28:50

Can people just leave this kid alone!He was only 19 when it happened he regrets it he's sorry why cant we get past all these and let him be.rihanna had a part in this and all i hear is chris chris chris he's a kid for godssake and he erred and he's apologised i dont see rihanna taking responsibility for anything remember it takes two to tango and now he's trying to move past that and then she decides to speak about it inorder to damage him more something tells me she's trying to destroy his career for good and that's the kind of person she is but it will backfire on her soon..very soon her first single isnt doing so well and that's just the beginning

dora
2009-11-06 10:30:46

Gwendolyn
2009-11-06 12:06:32

Since when does accusations denote guilt. Winans trial is in January 2010. Chris Brown pleaded guilty and had a trial. He is definitely guilty of domestic violence and it is probably not going to stop. And for those that believe Rhiana had a "part in this." That is just plain ignorant. There is absolutely no reason to hit another adult. Parties don't have to agree and parties don't have to like what is being said, however, there is no justification to cause either party bodily harm. Children hit when they lose control - adults have the option of walking away and accessing whether they want to remain in the relationship or not.

MidwestGuy
2009-11-06 15:22:52

Gwendolyn, when does accusations denote guilt? Maybe you should ask Oprah because she made the guilty judgment months before he went to trial and pled guilty. Let's not be selective with the accusations vs. guilt talk.

Rihanna was in the car at the time and unless they were merely riding in the car and he suddenly began to knock her around for a few, Rihanna "did" have a part in this. He wasn't fighting a ghost.

NIK
2009-11-06 23:46:58

I SUPPORT BEBE WINANS WHOLEHEARTEDLY!!!!! WE DON'T KNOW IF HE EVEN PUSHED THIS WOMAN OR NOT. IT'S HER WORD AGAINST HIS AND THE ONLY WITNESSES ARE THE CHILDREN. OPRAH HAS HAD ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE ON HER SHOW AS HAS MANY OTHER TALK SHOW HOST. IF BEBE IS HER FRIEND THEN SHE SHOULD STAND BY HER FRIEND. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OPRAH KNOWS AS IT RELATES TO MR WINANS, THE FORMER MRS WINANS, OR THEIR MARIATL RELATIONSHIP. IF HE DID PUSHHER, THEN DOES THAT MEAN SHE SHOULD STOP BEING HIS FRIEND? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! REMEMBER JUST BECAUSE YOU DONT SEE HIM ON HER SHOW DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE ISN'T HER FRIEND. BESIDES, I DON'T SEE HOW ANYWAY CAN EVEN RELATE THE BEATING THAT THAT BOY PUT ON RIHANNA TO AN ALLEGED PUSH. BE FOR REAL

KBR
2009-11-11 16:53:08

I love Oprah but she has a blind spot and this is not the first time she's shown it to us. When her friend Terry McMillan was on with Jonathan Plummer Oprah and Terry beat down Mr. Plummer for not realizing he was gay before he married Ms. McMillan. Yet a year later Oprah fawned over a group of white women who had ALL come out as lesbians after having been married to men with kids for years and years. Somehow their not knowing they were gay when they married was not an issue. Oprah owes Mr. Plummer (and perhaps Chris Brown) an explanation.

jazmine
2009-11-13 17:56:15

i hate that people shouldnt acusse him for thats i hate all the people who do that because she hit him two

rayjamo
2009-11-18 13:12:45

Oprah already kicked Winans off of her show.

Mr. E
2009-11-25 16:50:11

Joni, the reality is that none of us, including Oprah, knows what happened between Chris and Rihanna. Now, I do not believe that a man should EVER hit a woman. By the same token, I do not believe a woman should EVER hit a man. And included along with the word "hit" should be verbally abuse, demean, spit on, threaten, etc. Physically attacking another human being is not a gender issue. While I do not condone violence by either gender, we also cannot provoke people and not expect an undesirable reaction any more than we can provoke a lion and expect it to not bite us. If it is true that Rihanna threw his keys out of the window and hit him, then she has some culpability in the events that transpired. This is not a time of the 1930 Clark Gable movies when women can slap men, call them cads, and expect them to just take it. I like Oprah; however, she is not all-knowing, and she is not a judge of anything except her own show. I am interested to see if Rihanna is truthful in the upcoming Lifetime TV show.

Memetenda
2010-09-10 11:45:30

Hi Iam Prabhu from chennai,joined today in this forum... :)

edubserne
2010-09-13 05:21:36

I suck coz I only appear to be able to think of one joke and one joke alone... Why did the plane crash into the house???? COZ THE LANDING LIGHT WAS ON!!

Notice: COMMENTS DO NOT APPEAR IMMEDIATELY
To see your comment, wait approximately two minutes, then simply refresh the page.
Report issues/abuses to suggestions@thedailyvoice.com

Leave a comment

Today's news

NEWS UPDATES

More News Headlines

RECENT NEWS

MAY CALENDAR

May 7: Monthly unemployment numbers released

Name
Email Address
URL