[Xenalyte]

Shawn Hornbeck's family looks to step out of spotlight

Someone should gently inform them that appearing on Oprah is not exactly stepping out of the spotlight.

[soccermom]

Look, they've explained this countless times. They chose to go with Oprah Winfery because they wanted to reach the widest audience to address the questions, help other missing kids and then be done with it. Other outlets offered the Akers big bucks to go exclusively with them. Instead, they chose to take NO money, because they felt it was more important to get the message out and then withdraw. If the Akers had chosen to refuse all interviews, the jackals who are already willing to think the worst of Shawn would say that their silence was validation. I don't know for sure, but I assume the other reason they went with Oprah is because she, as the victim of molestation, can empathize.

[TruthSetsUFree]

Someone should gently inform you that this bashing and second-guessing of Shawn and his parents does him FAR more damage than any appearance on Oprah. I can in fact see that there could be some healing in that process of doing interviews and the support they get from others, but there's no redeeming value in your criticism of the choices they are making. It is obvious they love their child. It is also obvious that there are many sicko individuals who will bash the victim and his family no matter what.