Was Oprah's actions ethically reasonable?

Question

Ok, so Oprah Winfrey recently pulled a book from her famous "Oprah's Book Club List." The story was about a young Cherokee boy and Oprah originally admired the book and put int on her list. The author recently died and his obituary revealed that he had been a lifetime memory of the KKK. She pulled it off the list upon learning the author's history. Her rationale for her action was that the author's racism, hatred of African Americans, and his personal lifestyle offended her. She said (loose quote), "I do not want to fund his way of being."
Ethical issue: Should Oprah have done this? What is the relationship between a work of art and its artist? Is she promoting restrictions on free speech adn artistic expression? Is her actions in this case morally questionable?

All of you had really good points on this subject. I appreciate every one of you for taking the time to respond. Her reasons were based on her personal decision and that should not have been questioned. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Thanks for your take on this question.

Any more views would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

As this is her book club she has the right to her own like and dislikes, as long as she doesn't start a campaign to have that book forbidden or heckle people who continue to buy it she has the right to state her belief. There's so many places where books are censored, just pulling it out of a private list is pretty mild.
I know someone who won't listen to Wagner because the man was anti-jewish, stating his own choice, and I refuse to buy books by an author who created a sect... because I don't want to fund his way of being. That's the right of any citizen in a free country. Being famous should not take that right away.

As for restriction on free speech and artistic expression, they have nothing to do with what Oprah did. Artistic expression does not mean forcing people to buy or to encourage the sale of things or the promotion of people they don't like. However a call to censor the book or the author or attempt to stop other people from buying the would be a totally different thing and would be an attack on free speech.

Answer 2

You know maybe Oprah or her people should start researching those books and their authors a little bit better. This is the second time this has happened. However, I do not think that this has anything to do with her morals. She did not like the fact that the author was in the KKK and she did not want him to have any link to her or her reputation. She is not limiting free speech or anything of the sort. She is simply saying that she will not support his life choices or endorse it. It was a personal decision and no big deal should be made about it.

Answer 3

Her opinions are her own. It's her book club and it's her list, she chose to remove it for her own personal reasons. If she had not liked the book to begin with it wouldn't have been on her list to begin with. She simply made a statement of her own personal belief's and removed the book. She didn't degrade the book, the author, or the story he told, she simply said she disagreed with his personal beliefs and chose to not promote his book due to those difference of opinions.

We as American's need to quit holding people like Oprah at such a high standard. She's a human being entitled to her own opinion and expression. Stars of screen and televsion are people too. We have become so obsessed in our society with delving into these peoples lives that we believe them to be morally corrupt or horrible people because they do a simple thing wrong. Who cares what some guy said in a comedy club when he was heckled...no one should except the guy who was degraded. I think that we need to turn off the TV a little bit more and spend more time interacting with other people.

Answer 4

She is a free citizen making a decision about something that is her opinion. She has a right to do what she wants there.

Its funny that they didn't pay enough attention before to notice things about the author.

Obviously, she doesn't care how good the art is if it was made by a person she can't approve of. That's a decision everyone has the choice on. Choose what you like and for the reason you like it.

Answer 5

This is a very good question...

I think that the relationship between an artist and their work, is very similar to that of a parent to its child. No matter how much we may try to separate them, a child will always posses its parents DNA.

Concerning the question of morality, because it was thought to deny the incarnation, the very idea of racism has in many christian circles been considered to be immoral.

In know way has she impeded on anyones freedom of
speech. Her decision to pull his book, is like our changing stations when we hear a song we may not like. ;- )

Answer 6

As a Jew, I understand her motivation. If an anti-Semite had written a book about the wonders of Australia, and I had a book list, I would pull his book off my list. To me it would be giving aid and comfort to an enemy. That I won't do. Neither should she.
Would you buy a book from a known child molester?

Answer 7

it is her book club so i suppose she can add and take away.
it would seem to me that the work should stand on it's own.
she has every right to not support the author.
which brings up the problem of the author is dead.who is she not supporting?

Answer 8

She is intitled to her own opinion. People should respect that.