Today is the 10-year anniversary of the Columbine High School mass homicide-suicide performed by seniors Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17. The two boys hid guns beneath their trench coats and opened fired on innocent victims, killing 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves.
Raising fears throughout Littleton, Colo., other states, and around the world, at the time of the 2009 attack, we didn't know what ripple effect the tragedy would create. Unfortunately there have been many students who have opened fired on their schoolmates citing the Columbine killers as inspiration. Oprah didn't want to give any attention to those f*cktards, so she decided to cancel her Columbine special today.
Oprah Winfrey decided Monday to pull an already-taped episode of her talk show that was to mark the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, saying it "focused too much on the killers."
"I decided to pull the Columbine show today. After reviewing it, I thought it focused too much on the killers. Today, hold a thought for the Columbine community. This is a hard day for them," Winfrey wrote on Oprah.com and her Facebook page. A similar message appeared on her Twitter feed.
A Harpo Productions Inc. spokeswoman confirmed the posts.
Winfrey said a program about a mother released from prison would run in place of the Columbine piece.
Wow! What a huge decision. If another host tried to stop an already-taped show from airing it just wouldn't work. The killers have received far too much attention as it is. Lady O is right.
Share
6 Comments
Twitter
April 20th, 2009 2:25 PM
Correct and classy decision. Most of us already know about the Columbine killers and Oprah didn't need to give them undue attention and inflame an already volatile situation in that regard 10 years later.
April 20th, 2009 5:39 PM
Well said Craigmackk, I hope other TV presenters follow her lead.
April 20th, 2009 7:02 PM
I could not disagree more. Not paying attention is what made this tragedy happen. Just because you focus on the killers, doesn't mean you are glorifying him. These boys needed help, and by ignoring them, we ignore those that need help now. We ignore the potential school shooters. There needs to be more advocacy for mental health in this country.
April 20th, 2009 11:29 PM
JOHN!,
While I completely agree with you that advocacy for mental health works when focusing on some unfortunate tragic accidents (as Columbine), the difference here is that 10 years have passed and the friends and family members of those affected are still seeking closure. By focusing on the killers, it just serves to rekindle old emotions for the aeformetioned once again.
In summary, it was appropriate to focus attention on the Columbine killers for said reasons in its immediate aftermath, but now it would be overblown and I would imagaine it's almost like another "nail in the coffin" for friends and family members of the victims years later.
Deciding whether to feature the Columbine killers was probably a tenuous issue for Oprah, but I still believe she gracefully took the high road here...
April 21st, 2009 9:28 AM
Cmack,
I see your point, but I feel like it was never discussed. Back then it was all about blaming the media, music, and video games. Those things do not cause people to partake in such violent acts. No one ever discussed what was going on in these boys' lives when this happened because no one cares (which is another reason why this tragic event happened). I feel the opposite of how you feel. I feel like back then the wound was too raw to bring this discussion up. Now, ten years later, yes it is sill hurtful for some to discuss it but sometimes these difficult subjects have to be discussed. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were two boys that were told that they didn't matter. They were told that if they didn't do well in School that they weren't going to college and if they didn't go to colleged they were going to die poor and alone. They felt like they had no choice. Clearly they were wrong, but there thousands of kids that feel the same in school right now, and they are on the verge of doing the same thing that the killers did at columbine.
April 21st, 2009 2:21 PM
JOHN!,
I see your points, too, and it is a shame that the Columbine killers and many others who are the trigger-men in mass shooting sprees come from broken/splintered backgrounds. I agree that mass media is not to blame in these incidents, instead it's ultimately deeply rooted in themselves, and yes, their own lives.
Spurring prevention is definitely key in these incidents, and I agree that platforms such as talk shows provide a public service to everyone by illuminating how these problems arise, how they develop beneath the surface, and how they transform into these perceived "monsters."
In light of the Columbine anniversary, maybe Oprah could have aired an alternate show on serial killers yesterday but only if its respectful to friends and family of the victims - without any exploitation. She could have brought those related to the Columbine victims too. As weighty of the circumstances continue to be in their own lives, I would imagine they would have gladly agreed to participate in this format - under those terms - as well.