Oprah Apologizes

If anybody knows the healing power of public mea culpas, it's Oprah Winfrey

The daytime queen profusely apologized to the parents of students at her all-girls school in South Africa for a sex-abuse scandal that resulted in the dismissal of one of its dormitory matrons.

"I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," a tearful Winfrey told angry families who showed up for an emergency meeting at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, according to South Africa's news.24.com, a leading news site.

Allegations surfaced two weeks ago that a "dorm parent" had been accused of fondling a girl and physically and verbally abusing several others, including grabbing them about the neck, beating them and hurling them against a wall.

The talk-show host made her second visit to the school, located in the town of Henley-on-Klip, just south of Johannesburg, in as many weeks. She reportedly took full responsibility at the gathering and begged parents to forgive her for the staff member's behavior.

The accusations came to light after one of the pupils ran away, purportedly because she couldn't stand the alleged abuse any longer.

Winfrey suspended the matron and at least one other staffer. The school's principal, who the girls complained had failed to take action, was placed on paid administrative leave as detectives and Child Protection Services probe the reputed misconduct.

"I trusted her," Winfrey told the families regarding the principal. "When I appointed her, I thought she was passionate about the children of Africa. But I've been disappointed." Read More

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Diddy Joins The Ranks Of The B-Team

It must have been like a slow motion video as fading rap star Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs watched his star fall when he was refused entrance at an exclusive club, Les Caves on the French Riviera. What makes this insult even more close to home for Combs is that he once “ruled the roost” at the Riviera back during his superstar days.

However, it appears as if Diddy’s fan base has shrunk, as insiders gleefully pointed out that, “He is so B-List here. No one even acknowledges him.” Going a step forward in casting the ultimate celebrity putdown, one insider claimed, “Nobody even recognized him at the St. Tropez hotspot”.

This is a stark comparison to Combs’ first experience with the Riveria, when he arrived at the resort with a full-time personal entourage back in 2003. At the time, he was often spotted partying with other celebrities, including Uma Thruman , and indulging in bottles of Cristal champagne with the ladies.

Not content with just watching Diddy receive the cold shoulder at Les Caves, several insiders went out of their way to question why Combs was in the Riviera at all. “Nobody goes out there until the first and second week of August. Maybe he’s afraid he’ll get lost in the crowd once all the real celebs show up.”

♥ Special Thanks to celebrity-gossip

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Nick Lachey’s Latest Stalker… Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson

We all saw their fairytale wedding, and the first four years of their marriage, thanks to MTV. But since their divorce, times have been tough for Jessica Simpson in the romance department. And now she’s said to be stalking her ex-husband Nick Lachey.

Nick recently celebrated his 1-year dating anniversary with girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo and bought a million-dollar apartment in New York City. Then there was the whole banging in the Mexican hot tub incident. All of this has Jess pretty jealous.

Apparently she won’t quit calling the “What’s left of me” singer. According to a source close to Jessica, “She wants to be the girl that Nick fell in love with again. She’s been calling Nick all the time – at one point he had to change his telephone number. She now can’t contact him even if she wants to.”

Nick has been candid about his relationship with Vanessa. He’s moved on and doesn’t wish to revisit the time in his life when he was married to Jessica. Nick told press, “It’s good to move on. I think I’ve done that. What Vanessa and I have is real. It’s ours. Nobody can touch that.”

♥ Special Thanks to celebrity-gossip

"Believe What You See, Not What You Hear!"