Oprah Winfrey Smooths Abuse Wrinkle in South Africa

It has been a tough day for Oprah Winfrey in the press, but things might be looking up for the supposed subject of a new biting exposé. Ms. Winfrey made a “secret visit” yesterday to Henley-on-Klip, near Johannesburg in South Africa, where she visited her recently scandalized Leadership Academy Girls School. (Last month, a 12-year-old student’s allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of a school employee were made public.) During her brief trip, Ms. Winfrey met with the alleged victim and her parents. After the meeting, the girl’s father gave People some details about the get-together. “The meeting went well. It took about two hours, and I appreciate that Oprah took the time to listen,” he told the celebrity gossip magazine, later saying that his family finally has “closure” and his daughter would be returning to the school to complete the eighth grade. The father was apparently also struck by the Chicago-based media mogul’s megawatt appearance and winning demeanor, adding, “Oprah looked beautiful and was so easy to talk to. It went very smoothly.”