Oz store removes golliwogs from display to avoid offending Oprah
By ANIThursday, December 9, 2010
MELBOURNE - A store in Australia has removed golliwogs from its display so that they would not offend talk show host Oprah Winfrey and her guests.
The store in Melbourne removed the “Mamee” washerwoman dolls after a visit by Winfrey’s production company.
But the Dafel Dolls and Bears shop in Block Arcade, where 110 of Winfrey’s guests will attend a cocktail party, will continue to display other golliwogs.
The storeowner declined to comment because she had signed a confidentiality agreement with Harpo productions, but confirmed a meeting had taken place.
“Oprah’s people came … and yes it was discussed,” the Daily Telegraph quoted a source familiar with the agreement as saying.
“As a result, they won’t have that particular doll on display. But there will be plenty of other gollies when they come through,” the source said.
Golliwogs are deeply offensive to Americans because of their perceived links to slavery and racism.
Outspoken former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has weighed into the debate, calling for all golliwogs to “rise up as one against this political correctness”.
A spokeswoman for Winfrey’s Ultimate Adventure declined to comment, but Tourism Victoria said neither it, nor Harpo Productions, had told the shop owner to remove the doll. (ANI)
