A Million Little Lies: Oprah Rips into James Frey

• TRUSTING THE MEDIA. Daniel Boorstin had a killer concept in his book The Image: We have evolved from a society that admired people for their accomplishments (eg, explorers and scientists) to one that admires people simply because they are well-known (eg, a celebrity). He coined the term “well-knownness.” For the most part, celebrities are known for their well-knownness, not for achievements or contributions to society. James Frey wrote a book, made himself a celebrity, made himself well-known, and made himself into an example of why Trusting the Media is never a good basis for decision-making.

• Trusting the Media is one of the Seven Deadly Stupidities.

Frey is the author of A Million Little Pieces, a memoir. The book detailed Frey’s experiences with alcohol and drug addiction, as well as his life of crime. He shows up at home one day in his early twenties and is such a mess, his parents check him into a detox and rehabilitation clinic. Most of the book describes Frey’s time in rehab and his subsequent time in prison, all in graphic detail.

Frey was also a liar.

After his appearance on Oprah, the website The Smoking Gun did some fact-checking of arrest records, hospitalizations, and other salacious details in the book. Many facets of the story did not check out and the website challenged him. Soon thereafter, Frey and his publisher Random House, had to admit that the book was not the truthful memoir as it was originally marketed, but it was a fabrication based on some of the facts of Frey’s life.

Frey had to go back on Oprah to explain himself. Oprah was pissed. She extracted confessions from Frey and his publisher of the falsified nature of the story. Readers were allowed to return the book for a full refund from Random House and all future copies had author’s and publisher’s notes informing readers that the book was a work of fiction. Ironically, Frey first pitched a version of the book as a novel and no publishing house would take it. 

Other than making millions and becoming a household name from his bullshit story, what happened to Frey? After Random House kicked him out, A Million Little Pieces was made into a movie and his next book (yes, a novel this time) was immediately picked up by another publisher. Frey’s profile only grew. 

Using the Boorstin formula, Frey was no hero, but he was certainly a celebrity. As if telling truth from fiction was not hard enough, we have celebrity-journalists like Frey distorting and flat-out lying about the story.

Trusting the Media is not advisable when making a Tectonic Decision.