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Media mogul besties, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, are addressing and debunking rumors about their relationship yet again, affirming that they are simply best friends. The dynamic duo recently appeared on the YouTube series “Moments That Make Us,” hosted by Melinda French Gates, where they candidly discussed their long-standing friendship and the persistent speculation about their bond. Read more inside.
“For years, people have speculated that we were gay,” Winfrey shared with Gates in the interview. “We faced those rumors for a long time, and people may still think that.” King chimed in, recalling her lighthearted suggestion to Oprah, “I used to say, ‘Oprah, 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.’ If we were gay, we’d tell you!”
Their friendship began decades ago at a news station in Baltimore. Winfrey, then a 22-year-old anchor at WJZ-TV, and King, a 21-year-old production assistant, connected when Winfrey offered King a place to stay during a severe storm.
“We ended up talking all night long,” Winfrey recalled in a 2022 interview with People. “We’ve literally been friends ever since.”
Winfrey believes the rumors about their relationship stem from the depth and honesty of their bond, something not often seen between women. “People aren’t used to seeing women with this kind of truth bond,” she explained.
The 70-year-old media mogul emphasized their mutual support, stating, “Gayle is happier for me with any success or challenge I get through than I am for myself. And I feel as happy as she does. You cannot out-happy her. I am equally as happy for her.”
King also highlighted honesty as a cornerstone of their friendship. “In Oprah’s life, everybody is always very flattering and agreeable,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll just say, ‘That’s just not true. Your hair does not look good.’”
Their unwavering support and candidness with each other have solidified a friendship that continues to inspire and defy misconceptions.
Check out the full interview below:
