As Winfrey, 70, and King, 69, appeared on Melinda French Gates<\/strong><\/a>\u2018\u00a0Moments That Make Us<\/em><\/a> interview series on Wednesday, July 24, the duo\u2014who have been best friends for nearly 50 years\u2014spoke with Gates, 59, about their relationship and emphasized that if there was anything more to tell, they would.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve shared pretty much everything and I would have to say, it wasn\u2019t even a matter of navigation,\u201d Winfrey said of their bond.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, for years, people used to say we were gay, and listen,\u201d Oprah recalled. \u201c[We] were up against that forever. And people still may think it.\u201d<\/p>\n Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King Address Gay Relationship Rumors. pic.twitter.com\/1QJjIuIYH2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Gayle then interjected on how it has affected their dating life.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to say [Oprah], \u2018You gotta do a show on this,\u2019\u201d Gayle added. \u201cBecause it\u2019s hard enough for me to get a date on Saturday night with people thinking we\u2019re gay.\u201d<\/p>\n Gayle\u2014who shares kids Kirby<\/strong><\/a>, 38, and William Jr<\/strong><\/a>., 37, with ex-husband William Bumpus<\/strong><\/a>\u2014emphasized the struggle with the continuity of the rumors, noting, \u201cIf we were gay, we would tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n Winfrey then pointed out that she believes those rumors swirl because people \u201caren\u2019t used to seeing women with this kind of true bond.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason why I think our friendship has worked is because Gayle is happier\u2014not happy\u2014for me in any kind of success or victory or challenge I get through than I am for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Oprah and Gayle\u2019s bond has proven stronger than most friendships, dating back some 50 years. It began when both women worked at the Baltimore-area news station WJZ-TV.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe bonded because we had very like philosophies,\u201d Gayle reflected. \u201cWe were so in sync about so many different things, and I\u2019d never met anybody like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Oprah\u2014who met her lifetime partner Stedman Graham<\/strong><\/a> in 1986\u2014went on to build an empire with The Oprah Winfrey Show<\/em>, which ran for 25 years until 2011. And Gayle has been happy to be by her side through it all.<\/p>\n \u201cWho doesn\u2019t want to be her best friend?\u201d Gayle previously told the New York Times<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I didn\u2019t think I brought something to the table, or if I wasn\u2019t secure enough with myself then maybe it would bother me. But you know, I\u2019ve been anchoring the news for a long time. I won three Emmys. I\u2019ve proven that I can do that. I never feel I\u2019m in her shadow. I feel I\u2019m in her light, that\u2019s how I look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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