Oprah's Father Learned About Half-Sister on TV

By Sarah Crow Posted Jan 25th 2011 05:43PM

Oprah Winfrey stunned audiences on Monday when she announced she had found her long-lost half sister, Patricia, but viewers weren't the only ones surprised by the news.

Winfrey's father, Vernon, told RadarOnline.com he was unaware of Patricia's existence until his daughter mentioned it on-air.

Upon hearing the good news, Vernon said, "I'm pleased for Oprah that she discovered that she has a new half-sister and I would like to meet her too. I intend to call Oprah later this evening actually to try and catch-up with her about the exciting news."

Oprah, who was living with Vernon when her mother, Vernita, gave the baby away, had no idea until recently that her mother had even been pregnant.

It was not until 47-year-old Milwaukee resident Patricia began a search for her birth mother in 2007 that she found out she was related to the billionaire businesswoman and even happened to share the name of another of Oprah's siblings -- a half-sister who passed away.

AOL Presents: PopEater with Rob Shuter ... Patricia Rebuffed Tabloid Offers

Vernon Winfrey says that despite the years of secrecy, finding out about Patricia "was tear-jerking to me because it felt like a 'coming home' actually."

Vernita decided not to join in the on-air reunion, expressing feelings of guilt over giving Patricia up for adoption. "I thought it was a terrible thing... what I had done, to give up my daughter when she was born," noting that she was trying to get off of welfare at the time. "I made the decision to give her up because I wasn't able to take care of her," she said.

Despite Vernita's conflicted feelings over the adoption, Vernon says that she made the right choice. "I don't blame her for giving-up Patricia because I know it was done out of love and she just wanted a better life for her," he says. "I intend to call Vernita and tell her to hold her head-up high because she has done nothing to feel ashamed of and she is a loving kind of person."

As for Oprah, she's ready to get in some quality time with the sister whose company she's missed for so many years. "Patricia and I are still sorting all of this out. It's a process," she told her audience. "So we're going to be getting to know each other in the months and days and years to come."

Check out the emotional reunion:

Tags: oprah winfrey

Comments

(16)

Tuesday 25 January

By nov2rememberout

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Oprah half sister seemed like a very sweet person. I hope it works out for all of them.

By juana

I agree. I love the sister already. She looks a lot like Oprah, just better looking. I am happy that she did not allow money to sway her decision not to talk about her sister. Futhermore, she really didn't know anything personal about her anyway.

By highstep101

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Anything for ratings.

By New York

No I don't agree. I think things like this cn hapen to anyone at anytime. I think Oprah did the right thing in going public so that the truth would reign instead if the media frenzy. I wish them all well & many happy years together.

By debbie

"Oprah Winfrey stunned audiences on Monday when she announced she had found her long-lost half sister." Did Oprah find her sister? From viewing the show I heard that the sister was looking for her birth mother and during the process she discovered that Oprah was her sister. Oprah wasn't looking for something that she was not aware of..... writer to this article get it straight!!!!!!!!

By STEVE

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animals

By Coffeemug32

I dont think this is such "stunning" news. Perhaps delightful news but news that will stun us?? Hardly. And the sister kept quiet for 3 years? It was reported days earlier that this woman tried for 3 years to contact Oprah,and was ignored. So my guess is......before Oprah told the world.....she had it verified somehow and.....had the woman sign an agreement to "not talk". Besides, if Patricia was an unknown sibling what would she have to "tell" about Oprah if they just met?

By Charles

Wait a minute....Molestation, crack smoking, weight loss, weight gain,overdose deaths, AIDS death,and now supposed long-lost siblings...If Rod Serling wrote this nobody'd believe it! What the hell kind of people are these anyway??? Apparently Oprah and her family put the dys into dysfunction...I know all families have problems, but enough already. Is there ANYTHING normal about Oprah and her Nightmare on Elm Street family???

By George

This would have been a non-story had Venita and Vernon chose abortion.

By Sue

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Thats not nice

By Donna

George, first of all Opera stated clearly that it was NOT Vernon's chils and second abortions were illeagal in the 60's

Sorry Oprah not opera

By chris

i am so happy for oprah in finding out she has a half sister they have alott of catching up to do and it will take some time

Wednesday 26 January

By pennst75

Dad??? Didn't I tell Dad??? Oh well, he'll just be another that will have to watch "the show".....that'll help with ratings.....and earnings.....

Incredible!!!!!

By Ted Bundy

Dumb cows.

By YellowRose3218

Oprahs family sounds like a mess. But some families are this way.
I do wish her and her sister, all the best.

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