Celebrity Justice
Cheesy Lawsuit Against O

Posted Dec 1st 2006 3:53PM by TMZ Staff

Oprah Z SpinThis class action lawsuit against O Magazine is a cheap attempt to use Oprah to grab some publicity.

True enough, TMZ broke the story that a disgruntled subscriber has sued the mag and Hearst Publications, claiming she was double billed for her magazines and threatened to pay up -- or else her credit rating would go in the toilet. Maybe she was double billed. It happens. But frankly, it happens with lots of magazines, so why did the lawyers in this case zero in on O? Then answer lies in the O, and the P R A and H.

These lawyers got one pissed-off woman to launch a class action lawsuit. So how are they going to get other plaintiffs? Well, first you need the media to put the word out so other subscribers will follow suit. After all, the more plaintiffs, the more money the lawyers make. The media isn't going to do a story on Popular Mechanics over-billing its customers. Oprah, on the other hand, is a sure bet.




I won't deny it. TMZ dug up the lawsuit and broke the story. And that's exactly what the lawyers wanted. Should we have published it? It's hard to play judge when it comes to reporting on court cases. But Z-Spin is my chance to talk about the real deal, and the real deal is that this lawsuit is a little bit sickening.

I don't know her, but I'm guessing Oprah doesn't have much to do with sending out invoices for magazines. She's kinda pressed for time. But using Oprah's name -- that's gold. The lawyers were actually legally wrong when they repeatedly referred to the publication as Oprah Magazine. It's called O. But maybe the lawyers weren't sure if the media would figure out that O stands for Oprah. So for safe measure, they used an incorrect magazine title to ensure attention.

In the end, if this lawsuit goes anywhere, the plaintiff's will each get $10 and the lawyers will get rich. This is a case where a celebrity was totally used in an unfair way, and it kinda sucks.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Oprah, Z-Spin


Tags: O, O Magazine, OMagazine, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, OprahWinfrey

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(Page 2 of 5)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. Piss on the Oreo.

Posted at 5:44PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Raymond

17. Ok, so in order to be considered "black" you have to be a rapper, a ho, a criminal, or a drug addict. You're right. . . Oprah must not be black! Grow up, this is nonsense. You can love or hate a celebrity, but you can't put the burden of their race on them, and why would you want to do that to a philanthropist???

All a bunch of low-life 50 cent bandwagon jumpers.

Posted at 5:51PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Esther

18. can you smell OINK OINK...it's the oreo Oprah.

Posted at 5:59PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Terry

19. Ok, while we're debating double billing and Oprah, there are reports out there that everyone's favorite trainwreck, Anna Nicole, thinks she may be pregnant again.

Earth to TMZ....yer slippin' on ANS news....

Posted at 6:06PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Michele

20. OH MY GOD!!!! What is wrong with you people? When black people do something bad, they get crucified. When black people do something good, they still get crucified. When black people are poor they get scoffed at. When they are rich, they get scoffed at.

People always complain that the blacks are the only race that complain about their place in society and that they are lazy and wont fight like other people to get themselves out of adversity. However, whenever they do get out and make something of themselves they still get heat. You don't want them to succeed but you blame them for their failure. COME ON!!!

As long as there is a story about a black person on this website (whether good or bad) the racists come out in their droves. I think YOU ALL HAVE PROVEN THEIR POINT. They face injustice no matter what they do. No other race has to deal with that. Yes slavery is dead and yes black people have to stop harping on it and on all the injustice they face but you can't stop complaining about something if it's aftereffects continue to attack you and bring you down 200+ years after abolition.

Posted at 6:10PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Ann

21. Damn, hardly anyone is even commenting about the lawsuit. It's a ridicuous, frivolous lawsuit from someone that just wants to get money. So she was billed twice, that's life. Call customer service, get it fixed and get over it. For the record, I like Oprah, whether she's black, white, or anything in between.

Posted at 6:18PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Terror

22. To all you Oprah haters!! She doesn't give a DAMN if you stupid blog, poor white trash haters care if you call her names. She is laughing straight to the bank. She has been on television longer then you have been on earth. She has enough money to retire and live rich the rest of her life. So you sitting in front of your computers calling Oprah names is such a waste of time. The Black sister has more money then you can count. Go Oprah Go!!

Posted at 6:24PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Gisele

23. I don't know if this is the same but it has always bothered me and now I have a chance for someone to know...I once bought a subscrition to O and had it sent to someone else. No problems. About a year or so later I started getting a bill in my name that I owed for a subscription given to my mother-in-law. I DID NOT buy it for her. My step-daughter had ordered a subscription for her. We made calls and wrote on the bill that this bill should not be in my name. Once it was paid the notices stopped, however just last week a got a notice to renew the subscription?
It sounds like they do have a problem in the subscription department and one could take that as someone trying to pocket some extra $$.

Posted at 6:33PM on Dec 1st 2006 by stefanie hazdovac

24. Ann you I couldn't have said it better. Most of the haters on here are I would say high school kids. Have they ever watched a Oprah show? And poor Jessica, what is wrong with you girl. Did a good looking black dud let you down easy? Get some help girl. To much hate

Posted at 6:33PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Gisele

25. So Oprah is an "oreo" now... Oh boy... She sure can't please anyone huh? She's racist against white people cause she said that when she was young her mom used to clean white peoples' houses and now that she's successful she has alot of white people working for her. But she's racist against black people because she caters to middle aged white people and wont allow rap artists on her show. Then she became an oreo because she is black but acts white and wishes she could scrub off her skin but can't so she is doomed to forever be black and has to act white to get away from being black. She's also fake because she's got fake hair and fake teeth and wears tonnes of makeup (like ALL celebrities don't do that!!!). And let's not even begin to mention her weight problems (cause she's the only fat person in the world). Poor soul. If only she could be a whole new race that never existed before, then maybe she could catch a break and just be a successful woman who made it out of poverty to become a successful billionaire. ENVY IS A SIN Y'ALL!!!!

Posted at 6:35PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Tracee

26. #7 Musical, I agree with your post except for one thing. Ryan IS white, unfortunately, I think we are both the same race as this loser. No black person would suggest another black person go back to Africa. Also, the name 'Ryan' just screams 'WUSSY SCRAWNY WHITE BOY', dontcha think?

Posted at 6:46PM on Dec 1st 2006 by teeks

27. Although I agree it is a pretty "cheesy" lawsuit, but whatever it takes to wipe Oprah off the face of the earth. Her quality has gone way down ever since she started talking about POOP on her show. POOP for god's sakes! And that time she was on the radio talking about how she used to be all poor, then when she got rich, she started hiring all these white people as maids. I'm sorry - no matter how successful you are, you don't gloat like that. She thinks she's so big she can talk about anything she wants and we're all supposed to be like "OHhh yeah, she is SO right. She's Oprah!" Please. You can wipe your butt and your hang will still smell better than her (and her stupid stinky show). Literally.

Posted at 7:13PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Lily

28. Michelle...don't waste your time trying to educated the trailer park mentality of the morons on here. They are all miserable, jealous, uneducated people and the only way they feel good about themselves in their warped minds is to attack everyone else. Just ignore their posts...they are too silly and idiotic to respond to. A bunch of low lives getting their kicks on these web sites.

Posted at 7:36PM on Dec 1st 2006 by tom m.

29. TO #1,5,6,9,11,12AND THE REST OF YOU RACIST FOOLS.

IT IS SOO OBVIOUS THAT YOU ALL CAN'T STAND TO SEE A POWERFUL AND RICH BLACK WOMAN THAT WOULD CHEW YOU ALL UP AND SPIT YOU OUT IN 2 SECONDS AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTS THE POSTIVE AND NOT THE NEGATIVE, JEALOUS, RACISTS FOOLS LIKE YOURSELVES. THE ONLY THING THAT THE LIKES OF YOU ALL COULD DO FOR HER IS TO BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SERVE HER AND HER PRESTIGOUS BLACK GUEST WHEN SHE HAS ANOTHER ONE OF HER BALLS, AND IF YOU ALL DO A GOOD JOB SHE JUST MIGHT PAY YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING.

AND JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW DUMB YOU ALL ARE, YES, OPRAH MIGHT CATER TO WHITE PEOPLE A LITTLE TOO MUCH, BUT WHO DO YOU THINK IS LINING HER POCKETS AND HOW DO YOU THINK SHE BECAME A "BILLIONAIRE". (YOU GUESSED IT! WITH WHITE PEOPLE'S MONEY). OPRAH IS SUPER SMART AND SHE KNOWS HOW TO PLAY THE GAME. SHE KNOWS HOW TO EAT A LITTLE CHEESE SO THAT WHITE PEOPLE WILL KEEP LINING HER POCKETS AS SHE KEEPS RUNNING TO THE BANK AND THEN SHE TURNS AROUND AND STARTS BUILDING IN AFRICA. THAT LADY IS SHARP!! AND SHE IS PROUD TO BE A BLACK WOMAN. I PROBABLY WOULD PLAY THE GAME AND EAT A LITTLE CHEESE TOO IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO BE WHERE SHE'S AT.

SO YOU DUMMIES SHOULDN'T CONFUSE HOW SHARP AND SMART OPRAH IS WITH HER NOT WANTING TO BE BLACK. SHE IS JUST GOOD AT HER GAME! I KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR YOU RACIST DUMMIES TO SEE THAT!!!!!!

Posted at 7:36PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Tommie

30. Why has this article about a bogus lawsuit turned into all the racists rants? Stay on the subject people or don't respond at all.

Oprah is a proud, extremely successful Black woman and some people can't handle that, so instead of being happy for her success, they resort to criticizing her.

If she were any other nationality, she would be hearlded as an example of the great American Dream, but because she is of African ancestry, some hate her. And I know why.

When you look at her you are reminded of slavery. Well that's NOT HER PROBLEM......IT'S YOURS!!!! It looks as if she and a lot of other Black people have gotten over it and are tying to move on. But you paranoid, schizophrenic, freaks can't seem to let go.

Posted at 7:37PM on Dec 1st 2006 by Kimmy

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