Feb 13, 2020 | Bad Behavior, Being Black, Something. To. Say., The Media
Snoop Dogg vs. Gayle King
Hello Everybody. I have something to say about the Snoop Dogg/Gayle King controversy.
Although, I don’t know Gayle King, I consider her a sister because we were both black female TV journalists. As a host of CBS This Morning, Gayle is one of the highest-ranking women in network television. But the tragic death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant made the worlds of Gayle King and rapper Snoop Dogg, collide.
Gayle did her job and asked a guest on her show, all kinds of questions about Kobe, including one about sexual assault charges that were dropped against him in 2003. It’s a question I would have asked. Well, Snoop Dogg, who was Kobe’s friend, saw that part of the interview and he went off.
He made a profane video, calling Gayle a “funky dog-head bitch,” for hurting Kobe’s reputation. He warned her to back off, and said, “before we come and get you.” Social media was flooded with posts supporting Snoop and hating on Gayle.
Gayle had a rough time. She fears for her life and has been traveling with bodyguards. A journalist viciously attacked by a rapper for simply doing her job.
A week after Snoop Dogg left Gayle blowing in the wind, he apologized, saying he over-reacted and didn’t mean to disrespect her. But the damage had been done. But I’m not so sure he’s really sorry for what he did.
He says after they had a talk, his Momma made him do it.
See you next time.
May 31, 2019 | Journalism, Something. To. Say., The Media, Trump |
I have something to say about Fake News. I’m sick of hearing “fake news.” The term suggests that what you read and watch in the mainstream media is just made up by journalists. And by mainstream media I mean the long-established newspapers and television networks, like the New York Times, NBC and CNN.
Donald Trump started this fake news drumbeat when news stories were critical of him–his behavior, his policies, and his character. He is trying to make the American people believe that the great news organizations are just making up stuff and you can’t trust ‘em.
Journalists are reporting the hell out of the Trump presidency to inform, you the people, but Trump calls reporters the enemy of the people. Attacking journalists is one of the first tactics used by autocrats to solidify their supreme power. Is that what you want?
The Mueller report said in essence that Trump was the biggest purveyor of fake news using his tweets to lie and mislead the American people. We don’t have division in this country because of fake news, but because we have a fake president.
May 29, 2011 | The Media, Women |
Not speaking here of Elizabeth or Latifah, but Oprah.
At the risk of alienating millions of Americans, I am critical of Oprah Winfrey’s interminable, self-indulgent farewell to her fans over the past 25 years of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Did I miss the day she was appointed or anointed “Queen of America?”
Let me make clear I am not envious of Oprah Winfrey. I am as proud of her as anyone. I met her on several occasions and she was, in person, as warm and gracious as she appeared on television. She transcended a humble background, unfortunate family circumstances, and race and gender to become one of the most influential and wealthiest women in the United States and the world. A little black girl from Mississippi. Good for her. Good for us.
But after watching her two-day extravaganzas, “Oprah’s Surprise Spectacular” shows, I was uncomfortable with the latest incarnation of the talk show star. The productions were a descent into abhorrent self-indulgence. I have watched scores of major television productions: presidential inaugurals, presidential funerals, the Bicentennial celebration, the 100th birthday for the Statue of Liberty and the Millennium New Year productions. Few could compare with Oprah’s farewell shows from the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls.
As admirable a woman as she is, Oprah Winfrey didn’t cure cancer. She didn’t land a plane safely on the Hudson River. She didn’t rid the world of Osama bin Laden. She didn’t solve the economic crisis. She didn’t restore the levees in New Orleans. She was a consummate talk show host and noted philanthropist. But she was a television personality, and all she did was leave her long-running television show. A TV show.
The two days of “spectaculars” brought out some of the biggest stars in America: the Toms (Hanks and Cruise), Beyonce, Madonna, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Seinfeld, Stevie Wonder, who all gushed their love for Oprah, and she for them. A poem, called “Oprah,” that she had written, was delivered by the venerable poet, Dr. Maya Angelou.
There were choirs, and giant card displays among the audience, whose members also waved flashlights every time the arena was darkened for dramatic moments. Hundreds of young black college men paraded down the aisles carrying candles in honor of Oprah.
Oprah’s self-love began showing through in recent years. She started “O” magazine, on which she was the cover girl every month. Why would you do that? She even created “angels,” a network of them. And she fashioned herself as a spiritual guide. Who would be so bold? On finally, her final, final show, Oprah, while thanking her loyal fans, raised her arms in the air just like a preacher calling his flock.
I know. I know. She changed people’s lives. She spent her money well on projects to help disadvantaged people. But she spent a lot on herself, as well–like several multimillion dollars homes in some of the world’s most expensive locations. Again, that’s her right. She earned it.
She goes off now to try and build her new cable station, OWN, which stands for the Oprah Winfrey Network. (What else would you expect?) I wish her well and I will miss her omnipresence.
But folks, the time it took for her to leave her show consisted of weeks of tributes and flashbacks of previous shows, followed by three days of all Oprah, all the time.
Wasn’t it all just a bit too much? Over the top?
I think so.
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