Iyanla Vanzant is famous for helping people get their lives together. Given a platform by Oprah Winfrey, Iyanla became an instant star in the self-help realm. Her unique brand of tough love and sharp tongue made her television gold. She spoke with 100s of people, including some of our favorite celebrities over ten seasons. She recently caught up with Tamron Hall and discussed why her show came to an end and how some people really felt about her.
While many were looking to talk bad to the self-help guru, others were simply looking for help. “They can find you anywhere. They would come to my home. They would call me. ‘I know you don’t know me, but I need help.’ wait a minute. Hold up! And I have so many vehicles and avenues where I serve people. I have social media. I do classes, I teach. You don’t get to call me on my private phone at 2 o’clock in the morning. I just wanted to be free of that. That was more important to me.”
Debuting in 2012, Iyanla: Fix My Life became an instant phenomenon. The show’s official synopsis says, “each episode focuses on a specific problem posed by the story of one guest (or group of guests), with pre-taped production pieces at the guest’s home and interviews with Iyanla that provide commentary throughout the show.” Iyanla attempts to help a person or group of people find peace or clarity from their specific problems in her signature over-the-top way. Often moments from the show go viral.
After ten seasons, she decided to give the show a rest. While talking with Tamron Hall, she describes that in each installment of the show, she focused on something different. “Fix my life is done,” she told Hall. She explained further that “Each year I work on something different” She says she has been able to focus.” I work on love. I work on joy. I work on peace. I work on service. Well, my principle was freedom. I wanted freedom. Freedom to be, to do, to go.”
“Doing a show you have no freedom,” she told Hall. “I took a stand for what I value.” “I was stunned; the team was stunned when we heard that part of the freedom you desired was being free of criticism and being scrutinizing. People watching the show would scrutinize your nails and your hair, and you’d just grown tired of folks being mean and nasty,” said Hall.
“You go into people’s homes. They think they know you.” Iyanla responded. She goes on to describe her sensitivity to energy and explain how viewers of the show began to get too comfortable talking bad to her, and it began affecting her. “We’re not clear and conscious of the energy we sent out. They think they have a right to say certain things. Through the emails, through social media.” She continued, “People were coming to my home. I was getting death threats because people didn’t like what I said or did. I want to be free of this. I don’t want this.”
