There will inevitably be parallels drawn between Bishop T.D. Jakes' The Potter House and the fictional Memphis megachurch found in the new TV series "Greenleaf," which is created by Craig Wright and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey.
Anticipating this, Winfrey sought out Jakes to explain that her OWN Network has no intent of disrespecting his megachurch.
"I spoke to T.D. Jakes and said, 'I just want you to know I'm doing a show about a megachurch and the only resemblance to you, is that our main character is called Bishop and you're a bishop.' And he says, 'I'm happy to hear that because I've heard something's about it,'" Winfrey shares with Eurweb.
"I said, 'I just want you to know, from my lips to your ears, I have nothing but deep respect and regard for the church. I, Oprah Winfrey, am going to do nothing, ever, that disrespects the church. I am, who I am, sitting here today, because of the Black church, but there are some people in the church with some flaws. We might be talking about that. It has nothing to do with you.' And he said, 'Alright, can you send me a ticket?'" Winfrey adds.
The talk show host was careful not to offend Jakes because in the series members of the Greenleaf family leading the megachurch, attended mostly by African-American members, harbour scandalous secrets and lies.
Keith David stars in the series as Bishop James Greenleaf, Lynn Whitfield plays his wife Lady Mae Greenleaf, and Merle Dandrige is their estranged daughter Grace who has returned home after 20 years following the death of her sister Faith.
The TV series is set to premiere on June 21, 2016.
