Why Oprah Rejected the FreeSaudiWomen Campaign.
For those who might have not been aware, I am the creator of a campaign called the Justice 4 Saudi Women Campaign on change.org, which so far has gathered 21K supporters from around the world.
I had never dreamt that something which I’ve created out of my own hands would receive so much support and attention from fellow activists around the world, who share my concerns about the ignored atrocities taking place in Saudi Arabia especially with the Male Guardian System that has many Saudi female victims pleading for international intervention. My journey into Middle Eastern advocacy has been one filled with depressing, shocking discoveries that have all played a role in shaping the way I view life.
Within the campaign, I normally post regular updates about the victim cases that I am working on, my online advocacy activities, developing projects, progression, as well as my connections with humanitarian organisations, governmental institutions and celebrity/influencers with the hopes to make people aware of what’s taking place.
One of my recent updates were in regards to the celebrity responses I had been receiving lately especially during the weeks when I had been contacting their agents. From the likes of Trevor Noah, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Emma Watson and many more, in my head I had assumed that maybe, just maybe, the plan would work in my favour.
Boy, was I wrong…
I remember waking up in the early hours of the morning checking my emails as a daily routine. To my surprise, I had received an email response that came from Oprah’s agent (for obvious reasons I cannot reveal their contact personal info).
Bare in mind the following:
1. I’m nervous as heck because I didn’t think I would receive a response in the first place.
2. It’s Oprah’s agent…I mean it isn’t everyday that you get to receive an email reply from a representative who represents an individual that is considered one of the biggest most inspirational influencers in the world.
With all these thoughts going through my head, I had finally decided to open the email and it read,
Of course I was devastated. I mean its not exactly the type of message I would like to wake up to in the early hours of the morning. Besides that, receiving a rejection letter from a woman that I had praised since childhood, only to get a cold response over a matter that is considered worthy of influential support is quite frustrating especially when lives depend on it. Literally.
Anyways, after my little toddler-like tantrum that lasted for about a few days…I then had to remind myself that the rejection only stemmed from the fact that her relationship with the Saudi Crowned Prince mattered more than the women and even he is institutionally oppressing.
I mean think about it — When the prince had his world tour, United States being one of the countries he visited, it was more of a strategy to boost his countries image more than anything else. He shook hands with Bill Gates, Richard Branson, The Rock and of course Oprah Winfrey.
And it’s because of this clever strategy that now has the West kissing his feet and seeing him as the ‘god’ of reform.
So what are my thoughts on Oprah Winfrey now?
I still do respect her for all that she has done as a powerful black woman. I will never know the reasons why she and many powerful leaders would ultimately befriend and honour a rich dictator but all I can say is, this wasn’t fair to the Saudi victims and they know it.
In essence, money won and humanity lost. Besides, who did I think I was to compete for support against an Arabic Prince who has a net-worth of 12 billion dollars?
Wishful thinking…
