Oprah: "No Reason" to Check Out Adams -- Really?

After nearly two weeks of radio silence, Oprah Winfrey has finally responded to TMZ's numerous requests for comment on Dr. Jan Adams and why she promoted him on her show when he is not board certified in plastic surgery.

Adams was featured on the Oprah show in 2003 with other cosmetic surgeons. In just a few hours of investigating, TMZ found DUIs and malpractice suits -- among other things. How could Oprah have missed it -- and not known or cared that Dr. Adams was not a board-certified plastic surgeon?

A rep for Oprah tells TMZ, "Dr. Jan Adams appeared as a guest on the 'Oprah' show just once, in 2003, as the host of the Discovery Health Channel series, 'Plastic Surgery: Before and After.' The show he appeared on focused on various television series that highlighted trends in cosmetic surgery. Since he was booked as a guest commentator on the subject of medical television, not in his capacity as a surgeon, and since we did not promote him as a cosmetic surgeon, there was no reason to do a background check on him. We have removed all references to him from our website."

Dr. Adams: Click to watchBut on the show, an audience member says she's interested in getting several procedures done. Oprah, who is sitting next to Dr. Adams, says, "Let me see if I can hook you up." Oprah then leans into Dr. Adams and says, "We may know somebody."

Dr. Adams performed several cosmetic procedures on Kanye West's mother the day before she died. He told TMZ that he "did nothing wrong."

Reader Comments

(Page 19 of 19) Previous 15 Comments

271. This man has appeared on several TV shows, and even had his own show on Discovery Health Channel, but TMZ is only concerned about whether or not Oprah checked the doctor out before he appeared on her show. Why isn't TMZ as concerned about whether Discovery Health Channel and the others checked him out. I'll tell you why - TMZ is just trying to put the blame on Oprah. TMZ and its frequent readers are hateful,envious, and racist people who can't stand to see a black woman enjoy this level of unprecedented success in America. Plus TMZ hates Oprah's philosophy and left-wing politics.

Posted at 10:36PM on Nov 27th 2007 by Chris

272. I don't like Oprah.

Her "fame" has worn thin.

I hope she and her "talk show" goes away very soon.

Posted at 5:32AM on Nov 28th 2007 by Belle

273. What makes her an authority on anything??
she's a racist black, and stupid white people grovel at her feet like she is a god
We don't owe them ANYTHING.
Get real people, she doesn't like you if you are white, but she will use you and your stupidity for their "cause"

Posted at 9:55AM on Nov 28th 2007 by Mizteri

274. If she chose to torture James Frey for lying about a book on her show, why is she suspiciously quiet regarding Adams? Seems to me he deserves AT LEAST what James Frey got....

Posted at 12:53PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Kathy

275. Wow. The debate became a little off the mark.

Why did TMZ create the question? Media. To create a debate. Worked, N'est pas?

As a single, professionally degreed, successful, unmarried, no children as of yet WOMAN who, coincidentally owns a dog and it is my child for now, I must say that I am amazed and somewhat offended by Oprah. And, for that matter, some of her followers.

Have I watched the show in the past? Yes. Ok. I am guilty. I watched when Denzel Washington was on. I watched when Julia Roberts was on with that megawatt smile. I watched when Tom Cruise was on. I LOVED HIS COUCH JUMPING ANTICS. I WISH someone would jump on a couch about me. He was loving freely.

"Oprah is great because she gives away cars, she helps people, she cares." NO. My grandmother is great because at ninety years old, she fights her own pain and suffering to get herself physically out of bed every morning. SHE is my hero.

I watch Oprah for entertainment, occasionally, when I am on business in a hotel room or at home, both times bored out of my mind so I turn the TV on.

I don't hate her for being successful, nor for her popularity. Jerry Springer had a talk show. I didn't hate him either. At times, with her subject matters, she reminds me of Jerry.

why does she give cars away? Tax write off for herself or her sponsors. Period.

Why on her show and publicly? Good PR. Period.

For the followers who try to persuade me that she is NOBLE as a benefactress...you have failed to convince me.

She came from nothing. She built herself up. As a WOMAN, Yes I recognize her FINANCIAL achievements. But, how did she build herself up? Did she step on other people, did she make people believe her statements as gospel at all of her lectures in the beginning because she uses their EMOTIONS to market to them? Hmmmm......

ALL People who want plastic surgery SHOULD investigate for themselves. I agree.

SOME People are bashing Oprah for her race. I agree.

I say, as a Professional Successful Woman. Give me a woman I CAN look up to. Give me someone GOOD, PURE of HEART...NOT in it for herself only or for her own advantage. AND THAT will be the woman I hold in regard.

Is Oprah Successful....to SOME. Not to me. She has always seemed lonely and disjointed to me. Sad. She puts HERSELF on her magazine covers. Airbrushed. She uses her own name backwards for her company. All sad. Ego...maybe. Low self esteem. Most definitely. And I don't watch her show regularly. I am not an enabler.

Should she have done background checks? Yes.

Why did she Persecute James Frey for paper and ink...because he lied to her...OPRAH...and NOBODY lies to Oprah??

Well, even IF the cases were after 2003. Doesn't she have a MORAL AND ETHICAL obligation AS A BUSINESS OWNER to comment? Maybe she can't right now....but I will be waiting.

Because she DOES have a track record of reverse racism. She markets to the very audience that didn't treat her well in the beginning. Amazing, no?

Show me a woman that does not take power and fame and distort it for her own gain, and THAT will be a woman I will go to bat for.

And...No. Not voting for Obama OR Hillary.. She reminds me of a domestic violence victim... and that's another story.

Posted at 2:23PM on Nov 28th 2007 by Angie

276. Oh!! Before I forget....

I MISSED the episode about her dog choking.

Now, I understand about the whole dog being a child thing, I have one I treat the same way. I understand her love for her animals and I sympathize.

Internet, Pet stores in multitude, Public libraries, Book Stores.

These are all places that Oprah could have gone to, BESIDES Dog Trainers in general, where she could have found the SIMPLE information that you don't leave a baby puppy ALONE with its toys and that you never give a dog a toy it can swallow. Nor do you leave one out for it to find.

Children and hot dogs, anyone?

I can obviously find my OWN advice about the simple subject of dog raising in all of these sources that I mentioned, without having to hear it from Oprah on her talkshow....AFTER her dog died. (Poor little guy.)

Responsibility for your OWN things that YOU love. Simple.

So, to Oprah....WE DOG LOVERS KNEW THAT.

How do I phrase this in an easy to read manner?

LIKE DUH!!

Maybe she should ask US, the EXPERTS before YOU choose to raise a dog?

Sounds idiotic, doesn't it?

But, she obviously didn't have the proper education materials on raising a puppy safely. So, WE should be there to HELP her find her way in this horrible misguided world. Maybe if we started a talk show? Do you think she would tune in?

Stupid? Yeah, probably....But isn't that how she treats us, that we can't find our way without her?

I knew about the dog toy thing before her.

FIRST.

Posted at 2:46PM on Nov 28th 2007 by Angie

277. Oprah ... once angrily and with [VENOM] WARNED that "NO ONE DARES SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT [HER] PEOPLE." Guess she took her own threats seriously! Just the same, I have always suspected she is a FAKE!

Posted at 11:38AM on Nov 29th 2007 by Up-Front

278. Oprah did nothing wrong. She had a show about this stuff and he was one of them..

Posted at 8:21PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Kariann

279. For those who continue to make these false parallels between James Frey and Dr. Adams please stop; or at least consider that the difference is more than skin deep.

Oprah takes her "ACTUAL ENDORSEMENTS" very seriously. Being on her show to discuss a topic may give you exposure but THAT'S NOT HER PERSONAL ENDORSEMENT. Under that theory she has endorsed EVERY guest she's ever had on her show for 25 years. Therefore she is personally responsible for whatever they do after they leave her show until the day they die. Granted; exposure on an international show is important; Therefore pre-production will likely involve a check to see if you are a real doctor( for example) and if you really have a show on a national cable network. But that's NOT OPRAH'S PERSONAL ENDORSEMENT.

"Oprah's Book Club" however; IS AN ACTUAL PERSONAL ENDORSEMENT. Her personal endorsement is so strong that "Harpo" trademarked the "Oprah's Book Club". Moreover, the publishing companies actually change the jackets of their book covers to display the "Oprah's Book Club" seal. There is no doubt Oprah is endorsing the books in her book club. That Endorsement earns the authors Millions of Dollars from the day of the announcement that she is endorsing the book.

SO.... When Mr. Frey's publishers and their lawyers assured Oprah the book was "Truthful" and When James Frey lied about the nature of his book even after questions arose. She had a right and responsibility to personally confront him on the show because she gave him her personal "SEAL OF APPROVAL AND ENDORSEMENT". It didn't matter that she still liked the book as a work of fiction. Mr. Frey's sold the book as non-fiction and she helped him do that. He was not like the other 10,000 Oprah show guest per year.

The idea that Oprah should personally confront Dr. Jan on her show in 2007 for not being certified, even though he has no legal obligation to be certified is a joke. Or maybe she should talk real harsh to him about not reveling to her ( in 2003) the malpractice suits that would follow years after his appearance on her show.

Your false comparisons do not hold water.

Posted at 9:39PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Lisa C

280. "I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don't believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn't want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I'm not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn't know how to return the treatment."
-- Speech, Dec. 12 1964, New York City

Posted at 7:08AM on Nov 30th 2007 by MALCOLM X

281. Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.

Posted at 7:08AM on Nov 30th 2007 by MLK

282. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted at 1:38AM on Dec 1st 2007 by MLK

283. It must be great to sit at home and bash people all day long. "oprah is not God"....this is true. She is human and will make mistakes. In my book she does more good than bad so leave her the hell alone.
Her shcool isn't run by child molesters you idiot!!!
It was tragic event that could've happened anywhere...maybe even in your neighborhood.
Maybe she should quit working all together, take her billions and hide out in her mansion somewhere...but then the news would be "what did she do?" "What is she hiding from?"

You can't win lady so just say F@$% the haters and keep doing what you're doing.

Posted at 11:03AM on Nov 30th 2007 by Get OPRAH A BREAK!

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