Winfrey holds TV discussion on ‘American Dirt’ in Arizona

Oprah Winfrey’s soon-to-be televised discussion about controversial vel “American Dirt” is drawing scrutiny for t inviting some of book’s harshest Lati critics.

talk show host organized her much-hyped conversation with author Jeanine Cummins on Thursday after inviting around 250 people to Harkins atres Arizona Pavilions in sourn Arizona, Arizona Daily Star reports . crowd was n directed to ar Tucson, Arizona, location and asked to sign a ndisclosure agreement.

discussion will be next episode in Winfrey’s new Apple TV+ series Oprah’s Book Club, which features personal conversations with authors in front of a live audience.

Details of garing were t kwn since audience was banned from speaking about event until after show airs in March.

vel about a Mexican mor and her young son fleeing to U.S. border had been praised widely before its Jan. 21 release. But anger built over allegations book relied on stereotypes, caricatures, and material similar to ar Lati writer.

Lati critics also blasted promotions at book release parties that had floral art centerpieces with barbed wire mimicking border wall.

Oprah chose vel for her book club shortly after its release, drawing more anger from Lati critics.

In a video posted on Instagram following criticism, Winfrey said she w realizes book struck “an emotional chord” with Latis and created a need for deeper conversation.

On Wednesday, group #DignidadLiteraria posted an open letter to Winfrey on site Literary Hub calling for deeper conversations about “ continued underrepresentation of (Lati) authors in publishing and in your highly influential book club.”

letter mentioned Tucson event and called for a private meeting with Winfrey and ir movement.

“We urge to you open your mind and heart to actual Latis way you have publicly declared you did to Jeanine’s fictional characters,” letter read.

Writer Roberto Lovato, one of signers of letter, wrote on Twitter about t receiving an invitation to Winfrey’s Tucson event.

“People are starting to enter @Oprah’s ‘all sides,’ completely std #AmericanDirt spectacle for @AppleTV in Tucson. Though we were t invited & though we r interested in talking re industry, t spectacles, she will be hearing from #DignidadLiteraria,” he wrote.

episode, which is set to debut in March, is third installment of series. first two episodes were hour-long conversations with book club authors Ta-Nehisi Coates and Elizabeth Strout.

Im Source: AP