Harpo Productions

Australian Store Removes Racist Dolls In Advance Of Oprah Visit


Posted on Dec 09, 2010 @ 07:00AM - 6 comments

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey’s trip to Australia has stirred-up a racism controversy over a “Mamee” washer woman style doll, Radaronline.com has learned. A doll shop in Melbourne withdrew the golliwog style dolls from its display window after a visit by Oprah’s production company.

The Dafel Dolls and Bears Shop will stage a cocktail party for 110 of the American superstar’s guests on Friday evening.

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey’s trip to Australia has stirred-up a racism controversy over a “Mamee” washer woman style doll, Radaronline.com has learned. A doll shop in Melbourne withdrew the golliwog style dolls from its display window after a visit by Oprah’s production company.

The Dafel Dolls and Bears Shop will stage a cocktail party for 110 of the American superstar’s guests on Friday evening.

PHOTOS: Oprah & Her Audience In Australia

The store’s owner would not comment on the situation because they had signed a confidentiality agreement with Oprah’s Harpo Productions.

But they did confirm that a meeting had taken place between the two parties.

"Oprah's people came ... and yes it was discussed," a source familiar with the agreement told the Australian Herald Sun newspaper.

PHOTOS: Oprah And Her Famous Friends

Ironically, despite removing the ‘Mamee’ washer woman dolls, the store will continue to display other golliwog dolls.

It’s understood that her representatives did not think that the washer woman doll was politically correct and seemed inappropriate considering Oprah’s international status as a pioneering black entertainment figure.

PHOTOS: Oprah's Audience Arrives In Sydney

Winfrey kicked off her 25th and final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show in September by surprising her audience for what she's billed as Oprah’s Ultimate Australia Adventure.

The hand-picked audience was comprised of the show's most loyal viewers over the years.

John Travolta made a surprise appearance on that show, as Oprah announced he would be personally piloting one of the planes. He ended up having to cancel because of the recent birth of his son Benjamin.

PHOTOS: Oprah Winfrey & Paul McCartney Among Stars Celebrated At Kennedy Center Honors

Winfrey -- who  flew by private jet to the land Down Under -- traveled separately from her 300 audience members who arrived earlier Tuesday in Sydney.

During her trip to Australia, she'll be taping three shows, two of which are expected to be taped on December 14 at the famed Sydney Opera House. A third show will document her and the audience's  travels around the country.

During their 8-day adventure in Australia, the audience will have a busy and fun-filled schedule, enjoying everything from surfing lessons and snorkeling to nature hikes and beachside barbecues.

VIDEO: Oprah Sets The Record Straight On BF Gayle -- 'I Don't Know A Better Person'

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Oprah Rips Lisa Ling for Breaking Texting And Driving Law


Posted on Feb 10, 2010 @ 05:52AM - 9 comments

Oprah Winfrey took her employee, journalist Lisa Ling, to task for breaking the law - she admitted that she sent text messages while driving with her knees!

PHOTOS: More Celebrities Busted! Texting And Talking While Driving

Oprah is campaigning against using a cell phone, and is making all of her employees sign a pledge saying that they won't text or even talk on the phone in the car in and is calling this the "No Phone Zone." 

PHOTOS: David Beckham Caught Texting While Driving

Lisa Ling was on The Oprah Winfrey Show Tuesday, and looking chagrined admitted that she has texted while driving with her knees, which prompted Oprah to remind her that "it's against the law," to drive and text.  She told Ling that if she didn't stop she would "notify the California Patrol to be on the lookout," for her!

PHOTOS: Octo-Mom Caught Talking While Driving

With a row of nuns sitting in the audience, Lisa admitted that she was breaking the law and agreed to sign "half" of Oprah's pledge to not text and drive.  She said that she would use her bluetooth to talk on the phone. 

Maria Shriver Apologizes For Using Cell While Driving

Ling lives in California where it is illegal to text and drive and all drivers must be hands free while talking on the phone.  Maria Shriver and Jennifer Aniston have both been caught driving and talking on a hand held phone, and Shriver's husband, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, told her that she had to stop and made her donate the phone to charity.

PHOTOS: Jennifer Aniston Talking On Her Cell Phone While Driving

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BREAKING NEWS: Authorities Investigating Suspicious Package Outside Oprah Studios


Posted on Jul 31, 2009 @ 07:30AM - Add a comment
DNP Random Things
Retna / Splash News

Update: Chicago Police now say the incident at Harpo Studios was a false alarm.

Police Friday were investigating a suspicious, dark-colored backpack a security guard reported hanging from a flowerbed outside of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions studio in Chicago.

The incident was reported at 6:20 a.m. local time, and Chicago bomb and arson officials were at the scene of the incident, near the Near West Side studio.

The studio was not evacuated, and it was not known whether Oprah was in the building at the time the incident was reported.

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