Sylvia Browne: Linda Rossi interview

OK, exactly how did this "lady" get a following in the first place? I've seen her "act" on TV and it doesn't look like anything special, so could someone tell me how the hag did it?
 
I think a large part of it was getting a regular spot on a TV show. Then no one said she was anything but real.

I want to know is can anyone replace her or is she the last of the famous psychics?
 
rjh01 said:
I think a large part of it was getting a regular spot on a TV show. Then no one said she was anything but real.

I want to know is can anyone replace her or is she the last of the famous psychics?
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Fortunately, Browne looks in bad shape and probably won't live much longer or at least stay in good enough condition to continue her work. Sadly though, she is not the last of them, she is passing her legacy on to her son, Chris Dufresne.

Besides Mr. Dufresne, there are plenty of others out there still doing it, but only 2 that match Browne in success, John Edward and James Van Praagh, although I haven't seen either on TV recently.
 
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I agree it was the regular weekly appearance on Montel that did it.

Also, keep in mind she wasn't always in her 70s, brittle and cantakerous. When she was in her 50s, when I first met her, she was charismatic and funny and passionate about her philosophy.

A lot of people close to her believe she lost that idealism along the way, when she got used to the fame and fortune and greed took over.

I have no way of knowing whether that idealism was ever really there, or if she was just a really good actress back then, and not so much now. Maybe she just can't be bothered to act anymore.

And sadly, I am willing to bet there will be another Sylvia Browne to take her place. I doubt it will be her son. But as long as there is money to be made in the New Age industry, there will be someone.
 
I'm not sure the word "idealism" really fits this situation. She is making money by pretending to be psychic.
 
$800 for a half hour phone reading!!!!! You have to be kidding me!

I don't know what keeps these people going. I would have ducked out by the time I made my millions. Are these people just spendthrifts or something? I'd be interested to see what Browne spends her money on.
 
HumanityBlues said:
$800 for a half hour phone reading!!!!! You have to be kidding me!

I don't know what keeps these people going. I would have ducked out by the time I made my millions. Are these people just spendthrifts or something? I'd be interested to see what Browne spends her money on.
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There's an old saying: "What you make is what it takes". For whatever reason, people who make, say, $30,000 and people who make $3,000,000 complain that they just don't have enough. I don't get it either (being at the extreme low end of income, less than quoted) but there you are. Somehow getting $3,000,000 every year is not enough for some folks. But then if you talk to them they do things that I just can't conceive of, like playing golf. Or having a kindle. Or taking trips to Europe or whatever. They simply live a different way than I do, because I know full well I can't afford those things and don't plan for them.

FWIW I agree with you, but I know some very wealthy people who try and get on government subsistence programs because they feel they are so "poor" and get ticked off when they are not accepted. And yet, they genuinely feel they are "poor"! They are not faking it.
 
Chris L said:
I'm not sure the word "idealism" really fits this situation. She is making money by pretending to be psychic.
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Well, that's why I said she might have just been a better actress back then. There are plenty of people close to her who are convinced she at one time was idealistic and sincerely believed she could help people and that the greed and fame later corrupted her. There are plenty of others who are convinced she was after the fame and fortune all along.

I lean toward the latter explanation these days, else why would she have been faking trances back then?

I was mostly pointing out that it's difficult to judge how she came to have such a large fan base over a 20-year period of time if you only go by the way she is now (gruff and abrasive and not so funny).

Amapola said:
There's an old saying: "What you make is what it takes". For whatever reason, people who make, say, $30,000 and people who make $3,000,000 complain that they just don't have enough. I don't get it either (being at the extreme low end of income, less than quoted) but there you are. Somehow getting $3,000,000 every year is not enough for some folks. But then if you talk to them they do things that I just can't conceive of, like playing golf. Or having a kindle. Or taking trips to Europe or whatever. They simply live a different way than I do, because I know full well I can't afford those things and don't plan for them.

FWIW I agree with you, but I know some very wealthy people who try and get on government subsistence programs because they feel they are so "poor" and get ticked off when they are not accepted. And yet, they genuinely feel they are "poor"! They are not faking it.
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I agree.

Word around the office seems to be that Browne and son got used to the lifestyle of the rich and famous and aside from a few investments here and there, pretty much spent it all as fast as they earned it.
 
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I just saw another promo, and KMOV-TV (Channel 4 in St. Louis) is doing another segment this coming Thursday (May 20th) on the 10:00 news. I missed most of the promo, but saw that part of this segment will comprise an interview with another SB victim. (Yes, I did hear them use the word "victim" or "victimized".)
 
Terri Pflanz

New video and article from update:

Psychic's failed prediction brings heartbreak to local mom
KMOV.com
Posted on May 19, 2010 at 9:54 PM


Self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne has one less fan after one of her predictions proved to be wrong.

Terri Pflanz says she begged Browne for answers when she knew her son Mark was dying of cancer. She prayed he would win the fight for his life, but after he kept getting worse, Pflanz went to see Browne when she was in St. Louis two weeks ago.

Pflanz silently pleaded for help.

She got the chance to talk to Browne, and asked her if Mark would live. "She matter of factly said, 'yes, he's going to live,'" Pflanz says.

Browne told her that Mark would get a miraculous treatment and would be better by the end of the month. She also said that Pflanz should not bring him home for hospice care, but to leave him in the hospital.

Two days later, Mark Schumer was dead.

Pflanz's ticket to see Sylvia Browne cost $45. It was a gift from her daughter-in-law.
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During a recent visit to Browne's headquarters in California, business manager Linda Rossi said that anyone disappointed with Browne's readings will get their money back.

Rossi didn't respond to questions about Browne's comments to Terri Pflanz, or if Browne would refund the admission for Pflanz's family.
...
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Full article and video: KMOV.com
 
When asked what Pflanz would say to Browne if given the chance, she said: "...It wasn't fair, for what you told me wasn't true. And I'm angry and I'm upset with you. But I forgive you because you're only a human and you're not able to predict the future."
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What's to forgive, when Sylvia is acting as if she can predict the future?? This mom has every right to be upset with her.
 
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Thanks for all the links. Is it just me or does the kmov audio guy really suck? The left/right panning and volume control are really distracting.
 
Sylvia Browne

Craig and I have NEVER received any kind of an apology from SB in writing nor have we ever seen anything on her website or heard anything on TV. I would love to see either one if they exist. Pam Akers - Shawn Hornbeck mom
 
I don't know what keeps these people going. I would have ducked out by the time I made my millions. Are these people just spendthrifts or something? I'd be interested to see what Browne spends her money on.
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From her mien, I would guess cigarettes and bourbon.

I know that's unkind and mostly unsupported, but I don't say it without consideration. The smoking thing seems obvious to me from the voice, but perhaps that's in her past. I think Mr. Lancaster has made some speculation in that regard, and I have nothing to add other than gut feeling. Similarly, my suspicion that Ms. Browne is an old soak is only visceral. I've known skads of drunks that, between medications, have offered their indispensable wisdom in crack shots from their hip.

I can remember the first time I saw her, back in the 80s. I thought: "They really shouldn't allow someone so obviously drunk, to be televised." My caution was not for the audience, but rather for the inebriant. After all, if you let a drunk blather on, they're likely to put their foot in their mouth so forcefully that they'll lose some teeth.
 
pakers said:
Craig and I have NEVER received any kind of an apology from SB in writing nor have we ever seen anything on her website or heard anything on TV. I would love to see either one if they exist. Pam Akers - Shawn Hornbmeck mom
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Mrs. Akers:

Thank you So MUCH for posting here.

By the way, if you and/or your husband would like, I would be willing and eager to post an open letter from about this (perhaps written to Browne herself) on all of this to set the record straight.

My site about Browne (www.StopSylvia.com) was, I believe, the first place to break the news of her mistake (to say it nal article about kindly) about Shawn. My original article about it went up the same day Shawn was found.

A link to emal me can be found on the site. And if I do not reply within one day, please say so here and others will make sure I hear about it.

As I've said before, I saw a news report on how Shawn is doing now, and I cried tears of joy for his progress. It says volumes about both him and his parents that he shows such strength.

All my best,

Robert S. Lancaster
 
A big thank you to Mrs. Akers for setting the record straight about whether or not Sylvia Browne had apologized.

As of this morning, in light of Rossi's claim that Browne apologized 3 times and the fact that this didn't happen, I officially no longer believe that any spokesperson or higher-up in Browne's organization is operating with any amount of sincerity, including and especially Browne herself.

And yes, I know, all the rest of you were already there.

Count me as officially and irrevocably disgusted.
 
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