Oprah Secretly Visits South African School

Teen student brought infant in bag to hospital while seeking treatment

(NEWSER) - More bad news for Oprah Winfrey's scandal-plagued school in South Africa: A dead infant was discovered in a bag belonging to a student brought to the hospital for excessive bleeding, reports E! The 17-year-old girl remains in the hospital, and officials believe she gave birth at Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls. Officials aren't saying whether foul play is suspected, and Winfrey's reps aren't commenting, given that the case involves a minor. More»

'Forever proud of 9 girls who testified' against academy matron

(NEWSER) - Oprah Winfrey lashed out today after a South African court acquitted a former dorm matron at her elite girls school on charges of molestation, reports TMZ. "We began this child molestation trial in 2008," she said in a statement. "More than two years later, I am profoundly disappointed at the outcome of the trial." The talk show queen lauded "the nine girls who testified with the courage and conviction to be heard." More»

Queen of talk expected to spend two weeks defending herself

(AP) - Oprah Winfrey is expected to spend two weeks defending herself at trial in a defamation case linked to the sex-abuse scandal at her girls school in South Africa. A federal judge this week refused to dismiss the suit filed by Winfrey's ex-headmistress, paving the way for a March 29 trial in Philadelphia. The billionaire talk show host, as a named defendant, must be in court and has rearranged her TV production schedule to do so, her lawyers said. More»

Amid second scandal, she admits mistakes but defends mission

(NEWSER) - As the second scandal rocks Oprah Winfrey's South African girls' school, the media mogul admits she made mistakes in setting it up but remains committed to its mission. "The majority of girls are thriving, really fulfilling the dream and vision I had," Winfrey told the African Weekly Argus, as noted by the South African Independent. "They really have exceeded any expectations I had for them." More»

(NEWSER) - A new sex scandal has hit Oprah Winfrey's elite girls school in South Africa, the second in less than two years, reports the New York Daily News. Seven students have been suspended for sexually harassing classmates, including bullying students and "physical contact of a sexual nature," said a letter sent to a parent. Oprah sobbed on the air last year after a dorm superviser was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting several students. More»