Caught Dr. Phil McGraw on "The Today Show" this morning where he talked to Meredith Viera about the allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the girls school in South Africa founded by his friend Oprah Winfrey. Oprah has flown twice to the school in recent weeks to talk to parents but has not spoken out because she doesn't want to jeopardize any prosecutions.
"Oprah is an open book and she would love to talk about this right now," Dr. Phil said. "She wants these people prosecuted...This is one of the most devastating - of not the most devastating thing she's ever had to go through in her life."
Because of her own abuse as a child, "she knows the pain that is involved her," said McGraw who said Oprah used the word "sorrowful" to describe the situation. "This is personal for her."
He added that the school "is a personal mission for her. This is something she feels she was put on this earth to do...Oprah will not let this deter her commitment to these girls."