Search
Close this search box.

Oprah/OWN Accused by Woman of Ripping Off ‘Iyanla: Fix My Life’ Concept

"Iyanla: Fix My Life" Season 3
A scene from “Iyanla: Fix My Life”

*We’re sure Oprahs not sweating it one iota, but Ms. Winfrey finds herself (and OWN) the subject in a lawsuit filed by a Mississippi woman who say the entertainment mogul stole her concept for a reality show and thus, “Iyanla: Fix My L:ife” was born.

In her complaint, Otisa C. Strickland says “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” starring Iyanla Vanzant is a “carbon copy” of a reality show she says she created in 2008 called “The Agency,” reports theJasmineBrand.

“The plaintiff brings this action to halt and recover its damages from defendant’s ongoing infringement of its rights to ‘The Agency’. Specifically, plaintiff seeks to stop defendants’ blatant theft of its copyrightable expression.”

“The Agency,” as described in the suit, followed a “counselor that travels all over the nation to people homes to counsel and help people with their problems.”

READ RELATED STORY:  ‘IYANLA: FIX MY LIFE’ TO DISPEL THE MYTH OF THE ‘ANGRY BLACK WOMAN’

own oprah-billboard

Strickland’s legal action claims that Oprah/OWN’s show following Vanzant is “virtually identical.” The complaint also named Oprah’s Harpo Studios production company.

The suit also says:

“Oprah Winfrey was aware of my identity and she was familiar with the television visions which were on record at the copyright office. She researched my copyrights, and stole my copyrightable expression in an attempt to profit from my gifted and creative mind.”

According to TheWrap, Strickland says that Winfrey had access to her ideas because in 2011 she claimed copyright infringement on another OWN show, “In the Bedroom with Dr. Laura Berman.” But in a letter attached to the lawsuit filed this week, OWN said that Strickland’s proposed show, “Conflict Solutions,” featured a completely different concept based on a judge resolving disputes, rather than a sex therapist helping couples.

“Iyanla,” is now in its 6th season. Strickland is representing herself in the case.

So far Oprah/OWN hasn’t responded to requests for comment.

 

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

LeBron James (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Lil Wayne
Chance the Rapper x SocialWorks Appearance at Raising Cane’s Chicago
Jay Will - via Fandom
R&B Singer Shanice Reveals She Had a Double Mastectomy
ALLEN MEDIA GROUP’S ‘HBCU GO’ PARTNERS WITH PROCTER & GAMBLE FOR THE 2024 FOOTBALL SEASON
Jordan Chiles
Tupac Shakur silhouette - screenshot
pjimage (66)
Trump at Mara-Lago - screenshot
Tyrese Gibson
Read More
Lizzo (Getty)
Read More
Tim Walz at 2024 DNC - screenshot
Read More
Steve Harvey
Read More
Elon Musk - Getty
Read More
Monica and Brandy
Read More
Ghostface Killah
Read More
Kamala Harris - via CBM
Read More
Lori Harvey
Read More
Sean Diddy Combs Beyonce Jay-Z / GettyImages
Read More

POPULAR

LeBron James (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LeBron James And Anthony Edwards Make The Cut For Netflix’s ‘Starting 5’
Lil Wayne
'It Broke Me. It Hurt a Whole Lot' - Support of Fans Helps Lil Wayne Heal After Super Bowl Snub | WATCH
Chance the Rapper x SocialWorks Appearance at Raising Cane’s Chicago
Chance the Rapper Receives $100K Donation for SocialWorks at Chicago Raising Cane’s Event
Jay Will - via Fandom
Jay Will Shines as Tyson in TULSA KING: Check Out EURweb's Exclusive Season 2 Sneak Peek | WATCH
R&B Singer Shanice Reveals She Had a Double Mastectomy
Shanice Opens up About Cancer Journey in Heartfelt Video Message to Fans | WATCH
ALLEN MEDIA GROUP’S ‘HBCU GO’ PARTNERS WITH PROCTER & GAMBLE FOR THE 2024 FOOTBALL SEASON
HBCU GO Partners with P&G for 2024 Football Season
Jordan Chiles
Jordan Chiles Receives Bronze Clock from Flavor Flav at MTV Video Music Awards
Tupac Shakur silhouette - screenshot
RJ Bond’s ‘Tupac Cover-Up’ Mini-series on Tubi Questions Vegas Indictment in Shakur Murder on the 28th Anniv. of his Death, Sept. 13 | WATCH
pjimage (66)
WHO Reports of Decline in Condom Use Among Teens in Europe
1 2 3 8,291