Iyanla Vanzant’s new show, “Iyanla Fix My Life,” is doing more than altering the lives of its guests, its also breathing new life into Oprah Winfrey’s once struggling network, OWN. The Sept. 15 series premiere garnered the highest ratings ever for the network thanks to an interview with troubled “Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada. But while Vanzant seemed intent on “fixing” Lozada’s troubled life, critics have said that Vanzant exploited the reality show for ratings. Now, Vanzant is firing back at critics and sharing her side of the story.
Lozada’s personal life was turned upside down last month when her now ex-husband, Chad Johnson, famously assaulted her during a heated argument. And though many believe that Winfrey and Vanzant capitalized on the assault by asking Lozada on the show, Vanzant recently explained to TheGrio.com that it was actually Lozada who contacted them.
“She wrote me, just like every other guest,” Vanzant said, addressing concerns that it might have been too soon to discuss Lozada’s personal crisis on national television. “That’s an indication of willingness.”
Lozada’s original interview was filmed before her domestic dispute and was intended to air later in the season, but Lozada and Vanzant sat down for a second interview where Lozada detailed Johnson’s attack and explored her troubled public image.
However, Vanzant denies that she used Lozada to gain high ratings.
“The show was done prior to the upheaval with her and Chad, and it was scheduled to be the third show, not the first show,” Vanzant explained. “The reason it was the first show was, because of the upheaval with her and Chad, it was timely…And so, you know, at my age, I can’t care what people say, and most of it, I forget.”
This isn’t the first time OWN has been criticized for exploiting its guests. Last week, Tameka Raymond supported claims that OWN was using the troubled lives of black celebrities as a way to boost ratings after her ex-husband appeared on an episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter.”
But OWN isn’t alone. Check out some other networks that have been accused of exploiting black people for ratings below. – nicholas robinson
