Oprah Winfrey's Dad in Ugly Divorce Dispute

And Vernon Winfrey has lost a number of properties, too
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 10, 2012 10:15 AM CDT
Oprah Winfrey's Dad in Ugly Divorce Dispute
Vernon Winfrey and daughter Oprah Winfrey arrive at the opening of Charlie's War at the Nashville Film Festival at the Green Hills Regal Cinema May 2, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee.   (Getty Images)

Things aren't going so well for Oprah's dad: In divorce papers filed yesterday, Vernon Winfrey's second wife—Oprah's stepmother, Barbara—claims the 79-year-old has threatened her, cheated on her, and is trying (with help from O herself) to toss her out of their house. Vernon initially filed for divorce from Barbara, whom he married in 2000, last month. In her counter-claim, she has quite the laundry list of complaints, including one incident in which Vernon allegedly "chased her with a gun and threatened to shoot her," according to the papers cited by the Tennessean.

She also accuses Vernon and Oprah of attempting to "deprive [her] of her equitable interest in their marital property," which is in Oprah's name, and of trying to "force her to leave the marital residence, with no place to go." Last week, she called police to complain that Vernon and "an entourage of friends" showed up at the $1.5 million home uninvited. And the divorce isn't the only problem Vernon has: He and Barbara have recently lost ownership of a number of properties, including a development he was working on last year and the property that included his new barbershop. (More Vernon Winfrey stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X