Oprah Winfrey’s longtime friend wanted TV icon to deny they were ‘secretly gay’

Gayle King is revisiting the long-running speculation regarding her relationship with Oprah Winfrey. In a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the CBS Mornings co-host opened up about why the legendary TV icon repeatedly refused to address rumors that the two were secretly dating.

Addressing the Rumors

During her conversation with Alex Cooper, which you can watch here, King admitted the gossip used to be a source of frustration. Following her divorce, tabloid reports claimed the split was linked to rumors of a secret romance with Winfrey. King emphasized, "Number one, if we were gay, we would tell you, because believe me, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just, I prefer a man. I prefer a man."

Oprah’s Choice to Remain Silent

King recalled pleading with Winfrey to shut down the claims on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," fearing the rumors were hurting her social life: "It’s hard enough for me to get a date on a Saturday night and now people think I’m a lesbian, you’ve gotta say something." However, Winfrey’s consistent stance was simply to "just leave it be."

Moving Past the Noise

While Winfrey’s silence once bothered King, she noted that she no longer allows the chatter to affect her. "I’ve now gotten to the point in my life that very few things get to me," King said, noting how social media has become an "accelerator on hate."

Winfrey herself touched on the unique dynamic of their bond during a 2024 episode of "Moments That Make Us." She suggested that observers might simply be "unaccustomed to seeing women with this kind of truth bond," highlighting that their friendship is built on genuine, mutual support for one another’s successes and challenges.

Beyond the rumors, King’s hour-long discussion on Call Her Daddy also covered her 1993 divorce from attorney William Bumpus and her experiences navigating the challenges of racism and sexism throughout her career. Stay tuned to 205focus.com for more updates.