Oprah’s longterm on/off boyfriend, Stedman Graham, was doing an interview with a local news station in Chicago and tried to express his frustration that Chicago hadn’t kissed Oprah’s ass like he’s done over the past few decades. As Radar Online points out, he misquoted a biblical passage about how prophets aren’t appreciated on their home turf or something. The interviewer mentioned that Oprah is leaving Chicago after filming her show there from the beginning and how that reality hadn’t really set it yet. Stedman said “I really don’t think they appreciate her. I don’t think they understand the value of who she is and what she’s done. The prophet has no honor in his hometown… and she has brought a lot of national attention to Chicago. She reaches 20 million people in [inaudible number] countries every day.
The work that she does, she’s got a school in South Africa where she’s taken these kids from literally the bush and she’s now taken them on a tour to put them in college and everything else this year. So I don’t think she’s really that appreciated. I think that they take her for granted a lot… I’m just saying from an insiders point of view… she’s just a great humanitarian and a great leader.”
Radar describes the passage that Stedman quoted:
Stedman’s quote is a biblical reference from John 4. The actual quote, according to the King James bible is: “For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.”
And while Stedman simply may have been trying to express how much more the city should appreciate Oprah, his comments are sure to stir controversy with the religious component.
[From Radar]
This begs the question – did Stedman compare Oprah to God? Maybe some of you who are more familiar with the Bible can clue me in to the significance of the passage. It’s from John 4:44, and here’s the context. (I also found this site that compiles a bunch of quotes from the bible in which Jesus talks about how he doesn’t get respect at home.) I read John Chapter 4, from which Stedman is quoting, and from what I can understand it’s about Jesus traveling around and saving people. So I’m guessing that Stedman did kind of compare Oprah to God in his clumsy way whether he intended to or not. Now Oprah God is going to come down on his ass for revealing how much she thinks of herself behind closed doors. You know that she bitches about how no one appreciates her while she’s wiping her butt with $100 bills.
Another thing I learned from this interview is that Stedman is kind of dim. He has an educational company he runs and supposedly speaks at events around the world but he’s not that articulate or skilled at expressing himself. The concepts he was espousing about establishing a personal identity and taking charge of your life were kind of trite and overdone. Maybe that’s why we rarely ever see the guy on television despite the fact that he’s Oprah’s boyfriend. She doesn’t let him have a platform like Gayle because she’s afraid he’ll screw it up like this.
Update: Many of you have pointed out that this saying is common and might not have anything to do with religion. I still think he’s overestimating Oprah.
How much more attention can she get? WTF?
‘The prophet has no honor in his hometown… ‘.
NO! he didn’t compare her to GOD. It is a popular saying that people close to u may not appreciate your worth until the opportunity is missed. We should stop sensationalizing little matters.
@ Ogechi & Heiyia~ “It is a popular saying” ~ YOU ARE BOTH WRONG. The reference came from scripture found in The Bible.
For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown
John 4:44
(English Standard Version)
Iagree with Ogechi. This IS a very popular saying it’s something my mom says all the time, like even if you’ve done great things, the hometown/people you grew up with remember you running around in diapers and wont let you think you’re anything better than that. They don’t give you any respect because in their eyes, you are just another one of them, not anything else important.
this is the meaning, and certainly the way it’s used.
Nothing to do with bible or god or any religion specifically; it is just speaking of a truth of human nature which is that people dont appreciate good … matter of fact they thrive on negative *ahem* which is why sites like this are so popular *cough* LOL
And I dont see how you got to think that she feels this way about herself. He spoke of his own opinion. ANd yes, theres always so much more than what gets publicised going on but it just isnt interesting if it isnt scandalous (eg the impact and nature of her work with the schools, but they loved the stories of abuse/the scandal aspect like crazy)
What about the good news? How about a story from one of the girls whos life has been changed for the better?
….Thats all hes tryign to say, I think.
WTF does he want people in Chicago to do? Rename the city Oprahville?
It is true that the saying is very common and is not necessarily religious. My issue with the comment is that unfortunately, she is all too often lauded as something spectacular. She’s not. So she took some of her fortune and spent it on this school, etc. Why not? We should all help those who are less fortunate, but the need for recognition is disturbing. Our contributions to society are valuable even if others don’t instantly recognize them.
Additionally, I would think the millions she makes in book sales, etc. would be appreciation enough from her devotees.
Oprah, and those with whom she surrounds herself, are no different than the fame hounds of Hollywood.
wtf ever. how arrogant really. let her works stand on their own merit without fishing for a gazillion compliments or whatever it is that he’s after.
Well said Irishserra.
I know a man who gives $10 million away every year ANONYMOUSLY. Is it really charity if you do it as a public relations stunt?
Why should everyone recognize her selfless acts unless she’s only doing it to draw attention to herself?
And besides, what kind of prophet spends three quarters of the hour talking about herself and her dogs, and giving video tours of her many estates? is that what Jesus did?
Spoken like a person who loves and respecs the person he is with.
Joan mithchell comes to mind with his quote, Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got til it’s gone. She and her company bring people to Chicago
Harpo is a billion dollar business based in Chicago. Like her or not she is a powerbroker. In that annual semi secretive billionaire philanthropist meeting she is one of 2 or 3 other woman present, Melinda Gates another.
She is a pretty amazing woman.
But my real question is what was that female reporter thinking, when she asked if she could call him Mr. Oprah Winfrey, now that was asinine.
Oprah is an amazing humanitarian, no doubt about it. However, I think what he means is that people tend to think of her as Oprah the entrepreneur, or Oprah the talk show host, or Oprah the rags to riches story. They do not appreciate her for the humanitarian that at her core, she really is. They are missing the plot. I mean, that’s how I took it as soon as I read it.
Chicago was very well known before Oprah came along. The city didn’t need her help.
I’m not exactly sure how much more recognition she can get. Perhaps if instead of building schools in South Africa, she donated millions to the schools systems in her own hometown of Chicago, they would be more willing to shout the name of “Oprah!” from the rooftops.
I really dislike her, and have always gotten the impression that she feels everyone should be so pleased to be in her presence.
meme- it’s already taken to be sure.
Straight from The Sean Penn School of Philanthropy. She should be no more or less appreciated than the scores of VOLUNTEERS/PHILANTHROPISTS (including risking their lives in some instances) who expect and get NOTHING in return for their good deeds, including press.
What more can Chicago give Oprah? She’s MORE than respected, VERY well-paid (complete with tax breaks, I’m sure), built an EMPIRE off of a talk show, etc. How many other people have been allowed to shut down MICHIGAN AVE FOR 48HRS, DURING WORK DAYS, including removing traffic signals, for a TALK SHOW? She’s had 20+yrs to relocate her show if there was some on-going problem, instead of a win/win situation.
Whatever other slings and arrows of OUTRAGEOUS fortune she’s suffering from is no different from all other charitable celebs.
I never joined the church of Oprah. I’ve always thought she believes herself to be a messiah or a queen & we should all kneel & kiss her feet.
i’m willing to bet these two do not do sex to each other.
wow that is so sweet… Most men are intimidated by a woman with power, this guy seems to really embrace it. good for him. Are they still together??
I’m from Chicago and visit often, and she IS adored for how much she’s brought to the city… the building she lives in, on Lake Michigan, is something that natives point out to tourists and visiting friends on a daily basis.
But Chicago’s a Midwestern city with Midwestern values (despite the political bulls*** that drags our image down), and people there care much less about celebrities or the media than they do about their cultural heritage, which includes their very revered city workers (especially the police and fire departments). She’s generous with her fame and the benefits it reaps, which is respected, but no one’s starstruck about the fact that she has a show there. It’s just a fact of life.
I’m started to get over media twisting things people say to make a story.
This is just more sensationalizing.
How sweet is this man? Kudos to him.
Oprah HAS done a lot for the world. More than the average Joe has.
Overestimating Oprah? If Jesus came back, he’d be a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Puhleaze! Stop fishing for stories. Steadman was using an everyday quote, had nothing to do with Jesus and certainly nothing to do with God. You guys just have to come up with something, don’t you?
Timing is odd that he would trot himself out just as Kitty Kelly’s book is attempting to be promoted (but, due to subject matter, gets little press.) Very innerestin’.
His comment was not religious or comparing Oprah to God. The saying is often used about people who are taken for granted by the people in their own community.