Oprah Winfrey Defends Book Club Author Over Fake Claims  1/12/06

Chat show host Oprah Winfrey has defended author James Frey over allegations his autobiographical account of drug addiction, A Million Little Pieces, is greatly exaggerated.

The book became a million-seller when it was selected for Winfrey's TV book club last year (05), but a story posted on website The Smoking Gun on Sunday (08JAN06) claims Frey faked many aspects of his past in the book, including his criminal record.

But, in a telephone interview with US TV's Larry King, Winfrey dismissed the allegations as unimportant.

She said, "What is relevant is that he was a drug addict and stepped out of that history to be the man he is today and to take that message to save other people and allow them to save themselves."

Frey has admitted elements of A Million Little Pieces are exaggerated: "The book is about drug addiction and alcoholism. The emotional truth is there."