Oop! Roommates, Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are spilling the tea on how they’ve managed to maintain a longstanding friendship, and they’re even addressing some wild accusations that come along with it!
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Oprah & Gayle Open Up About Their Friendship
In Melinda French Gates’ new series, ‘The Moments That Make Us,’ Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King discussed their enduring bond and the power of close friendship.
Chile! While speaking with Melinda, Oprah explained that people used to think she and Gayle were lesbian lovers due to their close bond.
“I think we’ve shared pretty much everything, and I would have to say, it wasn’t even a matter of navigation. You know, for years, people used to say we were gay, and listen, we were up against that forever. And people still may think it,” Oprah explained.
Furthermore, Gayle jokingly added that the false accusations were preventing her from getting a date.
“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. Because if we were gay, we’d tell you!” Gayle said.
However, Winfrey noted that she believed these comments stemmed from how rare it is to see two women with such a strong friendship.
“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. And I feel as happy as she does — I can’t be happier than, cannot surpass Gayle. You cannot out-happy her. I am equally as happy for her,” Oprah continued.
Social Media Reacts
Commenters under The Shade Room’s Instagram report seemed to agree with Oprah, stating that it’s possible to have true friends and share a close bond.
Instagram user @thedirtybagpodcast wrote, “All jokes aside, a lot of us women don’t know what it is to have a friend happier for your wins than you are. Let’s be honest.”
Instagram user @e.berrie wrote, “They’re not bumpin cats. Y’all need to stop. Some people just have a close bond and that’s all it is to it.”
While Instagram user @stacyreed1011 wrote, “We don’t believe that. She did an interview with Whitney and Whitney was talking about Bobby and she immediately references Gayle in the same conversation when she was talking about an intimate relationship.”
Then Instagram user @indeskribeabull wrote, “Why y’all still tryna “out” people in 2024?”
Another Instagram user @teisha_monroe wrote, “I can tell by these comments y’all have NEVER had a True friendship with anyone and I’m almost sure it’s b/c of YOU. 🤣🤣🤣”
Finally, Instagram user @fitnessbyroy_ wrote, “Call me Patrick, because I have never heard of these rumors.”
More Details On Oprah & Gayle’s Friendship
PEOPLE reports that Oprah and Gayle’s 50-year friendship began when they worked at Baltimore’s WJZ-TV. The outlet further revealed that during a major snowstorm, Oprah invited Gayle to stay at her home for the night, which helped deepen their bond.
According to The Cut, Oprah stated during the interview that she would always choose a lifelong friendship over a bad marriage.
“I think I’d rather have one lifetime ‘truth bond’ with a platonic friend than a ten-year dud of a marriage with a man.”