I've been following the internet chatter all week about BeBe Winans' recent appearance on Oprah and the comments made by BeBe's wife Debbie, questioning Oprah's double standard about domestic abuse.
BeBe Winans was arrested last February on domestic abuse charges when he allegedly assaulted his ex-wife Debbie by shoving her to the ground during an argument. Winans will appear in court again in January to face the charges.
Oprah has been outspoken against domestic abuse in the Rihanna/Chris Brown assault case, and yet recently had BeBe Winans on her show with sister CeCe in support of their new album, Still. BeBe was scheduled to also appear on Oprah as a judge in her Karaoke Challenge.
The arrest is old news. The chatter all week has been about a comment from Debbie Winans, who called Oprah out as a moral hypocrite for having her ex-husband on the show while also condemning domestic abuse in the Rhianna/Chris Brown story.
Oprah apparently agreed, and has banned BeBe Winans from her show. A spokesperson frm her show told the website TMZ, "BeBe will not be appearing on the 'Oprah' show until his legal matters are resolved in court."
It's been suggested more than once this week that I cover the story, but I've held back. I'm not a fan of just writing a post to garner page views; it's more important that I have something to actually say about it, and I've been thinking about what it is that I want to say.
And now I know:
Everyone has been quick to point fingers at Oprah for her moral hypocrisy, and with good reason. She was right to ban Winans from the show until his case is resolved.
But what about Christian music fans? The gospel star was arrested in February for allegedly shoving his ex-wife to the ground during an argument, and yet his new album, Still, is the #1 Gospel album in the nation. It's at #5 R&B/Hip Hop chart and the Independent chart, and #24 on the Billboard Top 200.
We as Christians are quick to teach our kids that when they buy mainstream music they're supporting the lifestyles of the artists. Do we do the same in Christian music? If you wouldn't let your kids spend money on an artist who, let's say is a known drug user because it's like supporting their lifestyle, are you also willing to do the same? Remember, when it comes to entertainment, we vote with our dollars.
I'm often confused by the way that Christian music fans respond to stories like this. When Ray Boltz came out of the closet, some of my readers were very strong in their condemnation of his behavior and the belief that they needed to get rid of all of their pre-out-of-the-closet Ray Boltz CDs. When Michael Gugliemucci admitted to faking cancer for two years and basically preying on the kindess of fans to accept donations for his "treatment" (later found out to be a porn addiction), Christian music fans blasted me for calling him out and told me to forgive him.
So how should the Christian and gospel music community respond to a situation like this? Does the Christian community have a double standard?
RELATED POST
BeBe and CeCe Winans appear on Oprah
Gospel Star Bebe Winans Arrested For Domestic Assault Against Ex-Wife
Michael Guglielmucci talks about worshipping God and dealing with "cancer" on Hillsong DVD
Planetshakers Michael Guglielmucci admits porn addiction, faking cancer
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IS BEBE'S LIFESTYLE ONE WHERE HE IS ABUSIVE TOWARDS PEOPLE? OR WAS THIS A ONE TIME OFFENSE, THAT THE ONCE VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN EX-WIFE IS NOW GOING TO USE AS A PLATFORM FOR A CAUSE SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER BE INVOLVED IN HAD THIS NOT HAPPEN. I AM NOT CONDONING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ANY WAY. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT SHE IS NOW LABELING BEBE AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ABUSING HER FOR SOME TIME NOW. AS FOR OPRAH, SHE IS FOR WHOM EVER GIVES HER GOOD RATINGS. SHE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIANITY. SHE WOULD RATHER SUPPORT HOMOSEXUALS, DISREGARDING WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS LIFESTYLE. I WONDER IF MIKE TYSON WANTED TO MAKE ANOTHER APPEARANCE ON HER SHOW, IF SHE WOULD HAVE HIM ON. AFTER ALL SHE DID LAUGH, WHEN HE SAID HE WANTED TO SOCK HIS EXWIFE.
HEY BAFFLED, YOU SURE ARE FORGIVING. NO WOMAN, SINNER OR CHRISTIAN WANTS A HOSTILE MAN. DEEP DOWN INSIDE EVERY WOMAN WANTS THAT GOD FEARING MAN. ONE WHO LOVES GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND WILL SEE HER AS GOD DOES. A SINNER, WHETHER MALE OR FEMALE IS ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH. I HOPE YOUR SEARCH FINDS YOU FACE TO FACE WITH JESUS.
HEY BAFFLED, YOU SURE ARE FORGIVING. NO WOMAN, SINNER OR CHRISTIAN WANTS A HOSTILE MAN. DEEP DOWN INSIDE EVERY WOMAN WANTS THAT GOD FEARING MAN. ONE WHO LOVES GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, AND WILL SEE HER AS GOD DOES. A SINNER, WHETHER MALE OR FEMALE IS ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH. I HOPE YOUR SEARCH FINDS YOU FACE TO FACE WITH JESUS.
So called saints and Christians" did not die on the cross for you but if youre looking for a reason to not become one yourself, youre gonna find it. If you keep your focus on Jesus,people won't bother you.The Bible tells us not to judge people but we are to judge the "sin"while continueing to love the people.
Its importatant that you understand that there are consequenes to every choice we make. BeBe could have chosen a totally different route to take. Oprah is only standing by her conviction...not to support domestic abuse. When its all resolved im sure she will have him back on her show but "If you dont stand for something you'll fall for everything. BeBe does need to learn that violence is never the answer.Even if his ex-wife was acting a belligerant nut,his job was not to act in "flesh"but do what he sings about. When he put his hands on his ex-wife he hurt her in more ways than physical
Looks like he was innocent all along, and I applaud him for taking the high road.
http://jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/12/07.BEBE%20WINANS%20EXONERATED%20OF%20DOMESTIC%20VIOLENCE%20CHARGES.asp
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