James Frey is getting a little much-needed redemption.
Remember back in 2006 when Oprah gave the shamed author a public crucifixion after it was revealed that parts of his best-seller, A Million Little Pieces, weren’t entirely all that true? Well, it appears that last spring, an executive producer from the show called Mr. Frey to talk about coming back on the show. Due to scheduling conflicts, it didn’t work out, but he got a call from Lady O herself last fall.
She’d had an “epiphany of sorts while meditating,” says Vanity Fair. Oprah explained that her harsh tongue-lashing was unfair and that it came from her own ego and sense of having been personally betrayed. (Oprah? An ego? You don’t say!)
Once she came to her senses, the talk show maven called him to say she was sorry. “It was a nice surprise to hear from her, and I really appreciated the call and the sentiment,” says Frey. “When I heard her say, ‘I felt I owe you an apology,’ I was very grateful. As far as I’m concerned, that part of my career is over and behind me and I’m looking forward to writing more books.”
Interestingly, the upcoming paperback version of his sophomore novel, Bright Shiny Morning, includes a passage omitted from the hard cover.
Though he claims it’s all fiction the new section contains a narrative about a person involved in a headline-making controversy and a TV program that he knows is going to end disasterously. When he feels people “turning on him,” he starts taping all his phone calls, including some with “the executive producer of the show.” After getting publicly eviscerated, he tapes one with “the host,” where she checks to make sure he isn’t “going to hurt himself” and reveals some startling information about herself.
At the end of the story, Frey let’s the reader know that he has made copies of the tapes and handed them out to friends for safekeeping.
“Someday he might discuss it,” he writes. “Someday he might tell his side of it. Someday he might play the tapes. Someday.”
Wonder if Oprah regrets offering that apology now?
6 Comments
Let’s hear the tapes. I would love the see what her staff had to say. Oprah needs a few good blows!
I’m glad that she apologized. I read his book and the fact that he lied about stuff being true didnt take away from it. I was just a month sober when I read it so I understood a lot of what he wrote, and you could tell that he did struggle himself. So 100% true or not he tells a great story. And I’m glad Oprah said she was pissed because her ego was hurt, not her shows integrity or other B.S.
yay, i was so mad when she did this to him, it totally changed my opinion of her. i’m really glad she realizes it was unfair and has apologized.
I can’t believe ppl ^^^^^^ still find a way to blame Oprah. I bought this liar’s book, too. Oprah’s endorsement sent his sales through the roof. He made plenty money off of this lie so I really don’t feel bad for him. He’s got my $20.00.
Her reaction was so obnoxiously over the top, as if to say, “You dared to lie to the Oprah?” So yeah, he was a jerk to fib, but how naive is Oprah (answer: very)? I also read those books and suspected many things were not kosher. The stories and the people were too perfectly situated and that’s not real life. So…I felt bad for him and I’m glad she apologized, although it should have been done publicly like his flogging.
Krafner is loving it!
Heads up Oprah….. Despite your self-righteousness, you don’t necessarily rule the world.