Oprah Cited For Sexual Abuse of a Minor

The boy's parents are complicit as well. The kid just gets freed, nearly miraculously, from the clutches of a sexual predator.

And you know that means it's time to do some afternoon talk shows.

YESTERDAY, the parents of Shawn Hornbeck did what any parent whose child had been held captive and suf fered hell on earth would do in this circumstance: They put him on TV to suffer further pain, shame and humiliation.

On "Oprah" yet.

Yes, Pam and Craig Akers, Shawn's parents, who say they have not (yes, that's "not") asked him about his ordeal because it would be too painful right now, nonetheless had no problem dragging their traumatized child out before God and everyone to answer questions on national TV.

Well, let me rephrase that. They might have turned down a first interview with God if He'd asked, but who can say, "No," to Oprah?

This, mind you, occurred yesterday - less than a week after the boy's dramatic rescue.

At least Elizabeth Smart's smarmy parents waited a month and a half to drag her out to play the harp on "The John Walsh Show" like a little abused, emotionless Muppet.

Shawn, however, looked like he just wanted to die - maybe of shame, maybe of terror, or maybe just because after being held captive by a monster, a child knows when he's being exploited. And yesterday, he was - in the most legal, sanitized, huggy-feely, disgraceful way.

Hey, kid, get used to it - this is your 15 minutes and you better milk it for all it's worth. And if your folks are anything like the Smarmy Smarts, you, too, will be a TV movie before long. Now that's entertainment.

And while no one asked Shawn if he'd been sexually abused by The Monster, Oprah did, in fact, ask his parents, saying, "OK, I'm going to go there and ask you, what do you think happened? Do you think he was sexually abused?"

They indicated that they thought he had been. At least adult women who've been raped get the respect of having their names concealed in the media.

My God! This kid is 15! What in hell could his parents be getting out of this?

I imagine they were hoping for a car.

Psychologists note, however, that the steps of dealing with psychological trauma are denial, then anger, then a whirlwind media tour, followed of course by bargaining for a three-book deal and acceptance of a $25,000 advance.

posted by Ace at 04:52 PM

| Access Comments