James Frey And Oprah

Oprah could have devoted five minutes at the opening of her show and destroyed Frey's career, if not his life.

Why didn't she? Oprah's audience looks to her for her oracular wisdom. Nobody wants to admit they were fooled, least of all somone who millions look to as some kind of demigod who they think is infallible.

Oprah is all too human, and it would be hard for anyone not to want to have her every word hung on to by her followers as gospel. If Oprah admitted she was mistaken, her credibility suffers and she might see her audienc erode. Public taste is so fickle.