Guess their relationship has grown rather frayed

In a surprise reversal, Oprah Winfrey apologized to her national television audience Thursday for defending embattled author James Frey.

Frey has admitted embellishing portions of his memoir about substance abuse and recovery, “A Million Little Pieces,” which became a best seller thanks to Oprah’s book club.

In a call to Larry King‘s CNN talk show earlier this month, Winfrey called the controversy “much ado about nothing” and defended the book’s essential message.

But on Thursday’s show, she said: “I left the impression that the truth does not matter, and I am deeply sorry about that because that is not what I believe.”

She told Frey, “It is difficult for me to talk to you because I really feel duped … but more importantly I feel that you betrayed millions of readers,” asking him why he “felt the need to lie.”

Frey said that the same demons that fueled his addictions caused him to mischaracterize himself, adding: “I made a mistake.”

Getting her postage due

Hattie McDaniel, the first black actress to win an Academy Award, has been honored with a U.S. Postal Service commemorative stamp.

The 39-cent stamp shows McDaniel in the blue dress she wore when she received the best supporting actress Oscar for her role as Scarlett O’Hara’s maid in “Gone with the Wind.”

Co-star Ann Rutherford recalled how McDaniel thought some of her friends looked down on her for playing a maid, but told her: “I’d rather play a maid than be a maid.”

Going all Angelina on us, take one

Meg Ryan has adopted a baby girl from China.

The 44-year-old actress recently traveled to China for the adoption and she and her daughter are home in California together, Ryan’s publicist confirmed.

The “Sleepless in Seattle” star also has a 13-year-old son with her ex-husband, actor Dennis Quaid. She and Quaid divorced in 2001.

Going all Angelina on us, take two

Nicole Kidman has a new role – working to advance women’s rights around the globe as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.

The Oscar winner will work with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) on “critical gender concerns such as ending violence against women.”

“My family, we sat around the dinner table, we had political conversations,” said Kidman, 38. “My father always said, ‘You need to be involved. Don’t be a voyeur, be a participator.’ “

U.N. agencies have long enlisted the help of celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, who has traveled widely as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.’s refugee agency.

Better Red than dead

Rocker Bono on Thursday unveiled a new push to fight HIV and AIDS in Africa, announcing a partnership with several companies to sell products under the brand Red.

Red includes red-theme products from American Express, Converse, Gap and Giorgio Armani. The U2 frontman said the money would go to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Said Bono: “I think we’ve come up with a sexy, smart, savvy idea that will save people’s lives.”

The birthday bunch

Singer Bobby “Blue” Bland is 76. Actor James Cromwell (“Babe”) is 66. Dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov is 58. Actress Mimi Rogers is 50. Actress Bridget Fonda is 42. Actor Alan Cumming (“Spy Kids”) is 41. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 38. Actor Josh Randall (“Ed”) is 34.