Mailbag: Oprah Winfrey Salutes Dads, Including Hers

By Rob Shuter Posted Jun 20th 2011 02:45PM

Oprah Winfrey, whose relationship with her dad Vernon has been contentious at best, called him yesterday to wish him a Happy Father's Day, the daytime legend revealed in a surprising email to fans on Sunday.

"I already called my Dad, since I knew I'd be traveling out of the country today," Oprah wrote adding, "Happy Father's Day to all you great dads. And to those of you who are trying to be better; recognizing that you're not a man because you can make a baby ... You're a man when you can raise one. I salute you for the work and sacrifice and the dream you carry day in, day out for your family."

Though shocked at the time to discover her father spilled all to Kitty Kelley for her tell-all book in 2010, Oprah insisted they have continued to be on speaking terms.

"It's good we take a beat once a year at least, to acknowledge and make sure fathers feel appreciated," Oprah said in her email. "And most important VALIDATED. As I said on last show everybody wants to know they matter. And every relationship improves according to how valued the other person feels."

Back from vacation to attend the Cable convention in Chicago, where I saw her dining last Wednesday, the talk show Queen is determined to make OWN a success.

"Building a network doesn't allow for the long relaxing time I had imagined for myself. But I'm ready for the challenge," Oprah wrote. "Oddly enough it's not the vacation, but small moments like having time to stop for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, or Friday night going out to dinner with friends, that feels so different. In the past I've been so exhausted that when Friday comes I just want to collapse and sleep. So I marvel at the spaces of time to do something just normal and not worry about where I have to go next."

As always, thanks for sharing Oprah!

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Tags: Fathers Day, Oprah Winfrey

Comments

(11)

Monday 20 June

By LORETTA AVENT

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I am glad oprah recognized her dad. these females need to stop having thes bastard babies illegimate babies with these sorry men so called and not married its disgusting to see all thes stars os callpregnant the children suffer why do they get knock up and not married sick en

By stu

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u want to put Maury & Jerry out of work?

By Ernie D.

Well, she must give her father respect and appreciation regardless of what he did and how he is.

By Marla

True. I don't know why he did what he did but I know he saved Oprah from more molestation as a child and that is the only thing I would be able to remember if I were her. Most of the time it's everybody closing their eyes and pretending nothing is happening and the father either being the molester or somewhere just not caring what happening the his children. So, I guess he's got his story.

By Linda J.

Marla: You're right. I'm one of the girls whose father molested her. Nobody in the family believed me and probably didn't care. So it's either pretend nothing happened or lose any family that I have. I hate them all but they're my family. Father's Day is always hell because I hate that man but everyone talks about me and makes my life even more miserable say "you don't care about anybody but yourself" because I don't act like the dutiful daughter. I want to leave here but there will still be a hole in my life. She's lucky to have a father who really cared and never touched her. I'm glad it wasn't her father.

ahhhhhhhh no Ernie. Like she said..."ur a man when u RAISE a child". Dads have to work @ being role models to get respect. A title doesnot do it.

By Rosi

she'd be nobody if not for her father, Vern. She needs to stop playing GOD and people need to stop kissing her arse and ring, she's not all that! NOT!

By carlwoodspm

Sooooooo, Stu, does this mean that men who never have children aren't men?

By lou

it means their SMART men carl.

By dcwalker

.....they are talking about males who father.....the real man or father raises his child, the other type of male just spreads his sperm around.

By Ed

Lol Azzhole

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