Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, two well-known figures in the broadcasting world, recently sat down for an honest and heartfelt conversation on Melinda French Gates’ Moments That Make Us series. In this candid chat, the dynamic duo discussed the joys and challenges of aging, the invaluable lessons they’ve learned throughout their lives, and the profound significance of female friendship.
During the interview, Winfrey, 70, took a moment to address a long-standing rumor that has been swirling around for years – that she and King, 69, were a couple. With grace and candor, Winfrey acknowledged that people have speculated about their relationship, saying, “For years, people used to say we were gay, and listen, we were up against that forever. And people still may think it.”
King, anchor of CBS Mornings, chimed in, revealing a lighthearted conversation she had with Winfrey about the persistent rumors: “‘You gotta do a show on this because it’s hard enough for me to get a date on Saturday night with people thinking we’re gay,’” King jokingly told Winfrey. Together, they laughed off the rumors, with King adding, “Because if we were gay, we’d tell you!”
Winfrey went on to share her insight into why the rumors began in the first place. She explained, “One of the things I used to think was that people weren’t accustomed to seeing women with this kind of truth bond.” The duo’s genuine and unbreakable connection may have been misunderstood by some because society was not used to witnessing such a deep friendship between women.
Their friendship, characterized by mutual support and celebration of each other’s successes, has withstood the test of time. Winfrey described King as being even happier for her accomplishments than she is for herself. “The reason why I think our friendship has worked is because Gayle is happier, not happy, but happier for me for any kind of success or victory or challenge I get through than I am for myself,” Winfrey shared. The bond they share is filled with joy and lacks any hint of jealousy.
According to King, everyone should be fortunate enough to have at least one “really good” friend like Winfrey in their lives. The pair first met in the late ’70s while working together at a Baltimore-area news station. Winfrey, then a 22-year-old news anchor, offered King, who was 21 at the time, a place to stay during a snowstorm. Little did they know, this would mark the beginning of a lifelong companionship. “We’ve literally been friends ever since,” Winfrey revealed.
Looking back, they realized that their friendship was built upon shared experiences of feeling like outsiders. As Winfrey expressed, “We didn’t fit into everybody else’s perception of what it’s like to be a Black girl. But we still had a very strong sense of being Black and were very proud of being Black. So to meet another Black girl like that was, wow!”
In a world that often misunderstands deep connections, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King serve as a shining example of the enduring power of friendship. Through thick and thin, they have stood by each other’s side, supporting and uplifting one another. Their bond is a testament to the extraordinary strength and beauty of true companionship.
