Oprah's daytime ratings are down (7 percent this year). Her magazine circulation is down (10 percent over three years). And she canceled her primetime reality show. Begs the obvious question: Did her endorsement of Barack Obama cause America to start falling out of love with her? [NYT]
Well, maybe, but it's not like her business is faltering.
Her television ratings drop follows the general trend in TV audiences. Same goes for her magazine's numbers. And her reality show? Blame more audience fatigue.
And so what if Oprah lost the spot of America's favorite television personality to Ellen DeGeneres?
While Ellen is rallying around a topic everybody can get behind – uh, gay marriage – Oprah is the one taking real risks. Like endorsing a book about spirituality that might go against traditional Christian teachings.
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Perhaps being people are repulsed by her arrogance. Moreover, for someone who extols the virtues of honesty and being one's true self, she has at least 40 lbs photo-shopped from her magazine cover every month, and speaks in semi-ebonics when she campaigns for Obama.
I think her thinking that her presence and name being behind Obama, was not a great move. It took her into a realm that she doesn't belong in. Actually, no celebrity should be involved in backing candidates. The stakes are much too high. The candidates should sell themselves based on their personalities, their communication skills, their beliefs and their answers to specific policy questions.