Celebrity Justice
Woman Says Crazy Oprah Fans Injured Her

A woman has filed suit against Harpo and the "Oprah Winfrey Show" claiming crazazy fans were so excited about sitting in Oprah's audience they pushed her down the stairs, causing her to suffer serious injuries.

In court documents filed in Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court Wednesday, Orit Greenberg says she went to Harpo Studios in December 2006 to be an audience member for the "Oprah" show.

In her suit, Greenberg says that she, along with an "excess number of patrons," were gathered in a waiting room before the show. She says audience members were then told to enter the studio and sit "where they wanted," causing a stampede. She says was pushed down a flight of stairs as the rabid fans "rushed the gate" while pushing and shoving one another.

The suit alleges Harpo failed to properly control the crowd and was careless by allowing guests to seat themselves.

Greenberg says she has suffered "severe and permanent injuries" from the incident, and seeks more than $50,000 for medical care and other damages.

A rep for Harpo told us they do not comment on pending litigation.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Oprah

Reader Comments

(Page 7 of 21)Previous 15 Comments | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. If someone can explain to me why people get so emotionally attached to Oprah, Rachael Ray, Dr. Phil and Judge Judy or any other individual or group that they don't personally know, I would love to know. IMO, something has to be missing in those individual's lives. I just don't get it.

I have never felt the need to lose my objectivity to the point where I become attached to people I don't know on a personal level. It would be interesting if some college did a study on this.

I will never understand blind loyalty. I would hope that people would think for themselves and not believe in something just because someone they like believes in it. People have to think for themselves. As the old saying goes, if you are not the lead dog, the view never changes.

Posted at 9:11AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Nancy

92. I've been to the Oprah show twice, once in 2006 and once this year. They NEVER allow people to storm the doors, and there aren't even any stairs going down into the studio - you have to go up 3-4 stairs to get into it. The only stairs down are from the waiting room, where there is complete order, and nobody is allowed to run or rush the doors to get in. Totally ridiculous...

Posted at 9:19AM on Mar 21st 2008 by DaisyMae

93. If indeed the woman was pushed and fell down the stairs basically in what was a stampede for seats, she is entitled to compensation. I worked for Disney for 10 years. It is the responsibility of the show or whatever the venue to have proper crowd contral at all times. Disney excels in this area. You cannot just allow everyone in at the same time with a free for all with everyone trying to get the front row seats. People should be allowed in the same way you are allowed to enter an airplane. Rows at a time. If she was hurt, then take responsibility for her medical expenses.

Posted at 9:30AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Lindsy

94. Oprah has been doing this long enough to know how to get her people in safely. If this lady was push down during what sounds like a stampede - she should be able to recover damages. Let's face it - if she was doing this for the money, I think she would ask for more than $50K's. That's pocket change to Oprah! I think the chic who sued McDonalds for the hot coffee wanted more than that.

Posted at 11:30AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Ms.Brender

95. PAM:

What specifically has Oprah done to deserve the title of "racist". Is it because she is proud of her heritage? Why is it that the people who trash Oprah as a "racist" never say a word when they hear people making deragatory comments about blacks on boards like this. That is the definition of hypocrisy and racism. So you are all for racism as long as it's not by a black person I suppose. I have seen comments against blacks and jews on this board in response to this article and no one (including you) has spoken out against them but you call Oprah a racist because she supports Barack or "Balack" as you call him. Is that comment not racist? "Balack"- are you serious? You need to grow up.

I hate to hear white people saying "blacks need to get over the racism thing" and in the same breath when they have something negative to about a person that happens to be black the comment is focused on race. Can you not make your point without interjecting race? Probably not because that would require thought and character. Racism is ugly no matter what group it's coming from. Please don't kid yourself into thinking that you are not a racist because your earlier comments prove otherwise. People began calling Oprah a racist because she was sued? I'm lost, seems to me the fact that race was even brought up (by the people posting comments) is a glaring example of how racism is still alive and well in todays society.

Think about it- if you can.

Posted at 11:32AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Listen to yourselves

96. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hilarious comments.. hhahahahahahahaahah

Posted at 11:34AM on Mar 21st 2008 by shakeyourbooty

97. for all the racists for black and whtie people out there.. u deserve oprah to sit her fatt ass ontop of ur faces and fart !! althought i hate her anyway... not cuz shes black but cuz shes sooo vulgar sometimes and shes annoying!

Posted at 11:34AM on Mar 21st 2008 by shakeyourbooty

98. Watching it now and I don't see..... Are you a ##### moron? The crowd is going to rush TO the seats, then be quiet. Kind of like the girl i saw get crushed to death at an Ozzy show..... once he was playing, everything was fine, for everyone except one small girl. DuH!

Posted at 11:40AM on Mar 21st 2008 by bizniz

99. I agree, Oprah sucks.

Posted at 12:01PM on Mar 21st 2008 by whateveryousay

100. yes, Oprah fans get obsessively crazazy!
and 12. Jesse..........Oprah and Obama can go to hell...
thank God you have the guts to say what so many of us are thinking.

Posted at 1:20PM on Mar 21st 2008 by KendallJaye

101. #95-LISTEN TO YOURSELVES... thank you soooo much for that one. Iagree 100%. People really don't listen to themselves and in totaldenial about their PART in keeping Racism well fed. I'm still tryingto figure out how a post about a broad tumbling down is relative toOprah being racist... because she supports Obama? Race & Religionwill always keep us divided as a people.

Posted at 1:40PM on Mar 21st 2008 by Ms. 100%

102. Hell candidate #101 (literally) Careful now... because it could be you and Jesse both sitting in the spot YOU say can be for Oprah & Obama. Ever ask yourself where you stand???????

Posted at 1:42PM on Mar 21st 2008 by whatever

103. If Oprah still endorses Obama, then I will never watch her show again. If she belongs to the same church, then I hope America boycots her and her sponsers as well.

Posted at 2:14PM on Mar 21st 2008 by Sandy

104. It's all about the money people. Some loser tryin to get a peice of the Oprah hard earned pie. Give me a break and get a job like the rest of us working slobs. Sheesh. People just lookin for an easy buck instead of going out there and earning it. Hah! Loserssss Sue happy pricks! :)~

Posted at 2:15PM on Mar 21st 2008 by nurse in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

105. IF EVERYONE THINKS OPRAH IS SO WONDERFUL WHY DOESN'T SHE HELP HER OWN COUNTRY THE PEOPLE IN THE USA? ALL SHE CARES ABOUT IS AFRICA. I THINK THEY NEED HELP AS WELL I AM NOT RACIST BY ANY MEANS BUT FAIR IS FAIR. WE ALL ARE EQUAL IF ONLY PEOPLE WOULD START TREATING ONE ANOTHER LIKE THEY WANT TO BE TREATED INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN. WHAT ABOUT THE "BIG GIVE" HAS ANYONE OF YOU THAT REALLY NEEDED HELP BEEN INVITED TO THE SHOW? THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO OPRAH AND ASK HER ABOUT THE WAY SHE VIEWS THINGS. ASHE HAND PICKS WHO IS ALLOWED HELP. OPRAH YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE!

Posted at 2:20PM on Mar 21st 2008 by JANINE

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