The most surprising aspect of “A Million Little Pieces” was not the “memoir’s” shameless misrepresentation – because memoirs are a notorious hybrid niche. It was how easily Oprah Winfrey skated with her blatant damage-control act. To the point that she was actually lauded by many in the media for admitting she was wrong to have initially defended author James Frey – starting with her call to Larry King.
Her belated admission, of course, was precipitated by a weeklong blizzard of e-mails and commentary criticizing her for having excused “Pieces” in the name of a good read and ostensible redemptive values. Oprah then did the expedient thing, what any public relations flak would have immediately recommended.
Only she waited a week to fully gauge public opinion.