Notably, Vanzant made a now legendary mid-February appearance on The Oprah Show that still has folks talking. Vanzant, who was on the show for the first time after 11 years, was booked to discuss Iyanla’s bittersweet memoir Peace from Broken Pieces. A minute into the taping, Vanzant began to quiver, apologized to Oprah, and what followed over a two-part airing were two of the most riveting hours in recent television history.
We all know the story. Iyanla gets a major platform on Oprah in 1998. Iyanla starts to take off. There’s talk of a talk show. The chat show happens but with Barbara Walters. Iyanla’s show is canceled. We don’t see Iyanla on Oprah or The View. Iyanla loses everything. Her marriage. Her fortune. Her dream home. And as we learn in Pieces, the real love of her life.
Five months after that moment of healing, Iyanla will take the stage on Friday, July 1 and on Saturday, July 2, where she will join Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West, Tom Burrell, and Chef Jeff Henderson for a special AMERICA I AM conversation.
Did you watch part one and part two of Iyanla’s return to Oprah? What are your thoughts? What questions would you like to ask her at the free ESSENCE Empowerment Experience? We may take one of your questions and Iyanla will answer it LIVE!
Check out the ESSENCE Empowerment Experience schedule to learn more about the inspirational lineup. Iyanla will speak on Friday as part of the Transform Your Life experience.