Oprah Made The Trinity Choice That Obama Didn't

Oprah Winfrey joined Chicago's infamous Trinity Church of Christ in the 80s, and after sporadic attendance, completely stopped showing up in the mid-90s. Why? It's wasn't entirely because of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, reports Newsweek, but he was definitely a factor in her decision. "According to two sources, Winfrey was never comfortable with the tone of Wright's more incendiary sermons, which she knew had the power to damage her standing as America's favorite daytime talk-show host."

According to the magazine's anonymous sources, although Oprah Winfrey wasn't surprised by Wright's sermons, she recognized that "her audience is very mainstream, and doing anything to offend them just wouldn't be smart." Or maybe she just didn't like the church? Who knows. But if she did leave the church because she foresaw some potential scandal, I'm sure she wishes that Obama had done the same. [EUR]

May 6, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams, Stereohyped · Link · 7 Responses

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Tagged: Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Rev. Wright

Comments (7)

No. 1 · JM

I'm going to come out and say it - Wright. Is. Not. That. Bad. McCain's religious-right endorsements are far worse.

Oprah probably didn't attend because she was already a celebrity and attracted too much distracting attention.

Has she attended *any* church at all since then? She strikes me as being way too busy.

Posted: May 6, 2008 at 9:44 am

No. 2 · shani

All you have to do is look at Oprah's audience and at her magazine to see why she stopped going to that church. As for me , I'm a supporter of Trinity and Wright has been one of my favorite pastors long before I ever heard of Obama. Being that I can hold two opposing ideas in my head at one time, both men are worthy of my respect.

Posted: May 6, 2008 at 1:06 pm

No. 3 · sophistAKAted

Oprah has her own church anyway-The Church of O.

Posted: May 6, 2008 at 3:04 pm

No. 4 · Anon

@ Shani,

" Being that I can hold two opposing ideas in my head at one time…" LOL!

Posted: May 6, 2008 at 7:27 pm

No. 5 · daria of GBW

JM, the problem with Wright is that Obama supporters don't support his views. McCain's supporters probably support or tolerate the views shared by McCain's religious right endorsers.

Posted: May 6, 2008 at 11:27 pm

No. 6 · molecularshyness

Oprah's beliefs are not easily tied down to a 'church'. I think I saw her say something to the effect that she's more into the idea of a higher consciousness…so I think her own ideas about deity would influence her decision to stay a member, as well.

Posted: May 6, 2008 at 11:44 pm

No. 7 · JM

@daria - You're right. "Beating up on minorities is always less politically toxic than beating up on majorities." (Andrew Sullivan)

Posted: May 8, 2008 at 6:51 pm

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