Social Media Horror: Does Saying “Sorry” Make Up For Business Racism HellFire? Trudi Goetz 5 mentions, Oprah, well….

Remember the social media backlash Trudi Goetz experienced when Oprah discussed racism in Switzerland?

I wrote about it at Oprah Vs. Racism: KnockDown Dragout Steel Cage Facebook Match (“impartial” referees include Social Media AND….

Topics I covered spanned how social media was reporting on it as well via Facebook, Twitter and the like.

Well, this just appeared:

• EXCLUSIVE: Swiss store owner at center of Oprah’s ‘racist’ handbag storm demands to speak to star after she says ‘sorry for the fuss’

What I personally find fascinating is in Google News, there are 5 (count ’em, 5!) mentions that include Trudi Goetz’s name.

Compare that to the “Oprah Sorry” mentions clocking in at  257:

One really does need to ask oneself:

Given the info-burst nature of how social media consumes news these days, do you think the damage has already been done?

• Was it really racism?
• Was it really weightism?
• Was it really a very effective ploy to get people talking about Oprah’s upcoming film, The Butler?

So far, we have:

• Time.com: A Lot of People ‘Sorry’ About Oprah Winfrey Purse Incident
• CNN.com: Oprah Winfrey: I’m sorry Switzerland racism incident got blown up
• Star Ledger: Oprah on Swiss incident: ‘I’m really sorry that it got blown up’

But what I personally find fascinating is the story from the clerk and boutique’s viewpoint just isn’t scandalous enough.   Who is going to click on an apology?  Racism spreads far more quickly!

In Facebook, media is still portraying the apology from the racism card:

Oprah “sorry” about Switzerland “racist” flap

news.msn.com

Oprah Winfrey says she’s sorry for the uproar created after she told “Entertainment Tonight” a Swiss store clerk wouldn’t show her a $38,000 handbag.

Like · 16 hours ago near Seattle, WA ·

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Ora TV

Last week, Oprah Winfrey told Larry King about a incident in Zurich where she was unable to buy a handbag from a store. The‪#‎LarryKingNow‬ clip — on.ora.tv/171man1 — has gained wide exposure, but now ‪#‎Oprah‬ has said the story was blown out of proportion.What’s the real deal? NewsBreaker has the response and the reaction:on.ora.tv/17mztyw

Like · 15 hours ago ·

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AM 560 The Answer

Big John & Amy Show discussed ‪#‎Oprah‬‘s ‪#‎racism‬ encounter in‪#‎Switzerland‬ yesterday. Fox News suggests that the timely release of the story fits into the promotion of her movie, The Butler. Do you feel this is the case? bit.ly/148pMBP

Fox Guest: Oprah Pushing Racism Story To Promote New Movie? | Mediaite

www.mediaite.com

A GOP strategist on Fox wondered if Oprah Winfrey was pushing a story about prejudicial treatment in a boutique to promote her upcoming film.

Like · 9 hours ago ·

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Personally I find it just plain sad.   I don’t hold Oprah responsible for the fallout – I hold today’s voyeuristic society responsible.    If today’s society would take the time to first obtain both sides and THEN make an informed decision, well then, yes.    It was definitely *or definitely not* racism.

The thing is – ANYONE influencer can ruin any business with their words.

Saying ‘sorry’ afterwards – it’s like shattering a fine china plate against the wall and then issuing an apology.

The damage has already been done.

What Oprah and the boutique owner and social media will do next – that…remains to be seen.    The more scandalous, the more newsworthy.

And that, gentle readers…is truly sad indeed.

Grow strong,

Barbara Ling