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Oprah sounds-off on Trayvon Martin tragedy; canceling Rosie show

Posted at 9:29 AM, Mar 29, 2012
and last updated 2012-03-29 13:43:14-04

(EXTRA) – “Extra’s” AJ Calloway sat down exclusively with Oprah Winfrey in St. Louis, where she spoke for the first time about the tragic death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

She also talked about cancelling Rosie O’Donnell’s show and the big secret behind her Bobbi Kristina Brown interview.

Winfrey said to Calloway about the Martin shooting, “It is a tragedy and it is a shame that we’re sitting here 33 days later and there hasn’t been an arrest, or questioning of what actually happened. It’s a tragedy and it is a shame and we all know it.”

The suspect, George Zimmerman, shot the teenager last month while conducting a routine neighborhood watch patrol in Florida. Zimmerman, who has not been arrested, claims he killed the youth in self-defense.

Oprah told Calloway that Zimmerman is on the top of her interview list. “Mr. Zimmerman… I would love to talk to him.”

Winfrey also commented on the nationwide outcry over the shooting.

“I saw some people on Twitter saying nothing has changed, the same thing’s going on. Lots has changed and you know why? Because black people, white people, brown people, yellow people all over this country and all over the world are saying the same thing… it’s a tragedy and it’s a shame and justice needs to be served.”

In her first interview since the cancellation of Rosie O’Donnell’s OWN talk show, Oprah revealed she personally delivered the news to Rosie.

Winfrey explained, “I called [Rosie] and said ‘We’re not going to be able to go forward’… we both knew. She is a class act, 1,000 percent.”

Winfrey also broke news to “Extra” about her exclusive Bobbi Kristina interview, revealing for the first time that it almost didn’t happen.

“I was on the plane leaving New York… the producer says we can’t find Bobbi Kristina… and we don’t know if she’s going to do an interview. And I said, ‘By the time I land I’m hoping you would have found her.'”

Once Oprah arrived to the home of Pat Houston, Bobbi Kristina had re-emerged.

Winfrey said, “When I saw her, the reason I didn’t sit down [with Bobbi Kristina] is because I was told that she didn’t really want to sit down, so I just used that moment.”

Read more hereand watch Extra weeknights at 7:30 p.m., following CBS 6 News at 7 with Bill Fitzgerald.