Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King Respond to Longstanding Relationship Rumors

Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King have shared a decades-long friendship that began when they worked together at WJZ-TV in Baltimore. Over the years, their deep bond has sparked countless rumors, especially speculation that they’re secretly in a romantic relationship.

In a recent conversation with Melinda French Gates as part of the “Moments That Make Us” interview series, the pair openly addressed the ongoing gossip.

Oprah reflected on the long-standing whispers, saying, “For years, people assumed we were gay. We dealt with that for a long time, and some people probably still believe it.”

Gayle chimed in with humor, recalling how the rumors once affected her dating life: “I used to tell Oprah, ‘You need to do a show about this because it’s already tough to find a date when people think we’re a couple.’ But seriously, if we were gay, we’d be the first to say so.”

Oprah added that the speculation may persist simply because people aren’t accustomed to seeing two women share such a strong and genuine emotional connection.

She also highlighted the unique dynamic of their friendship, explaining that Gayle often celebrates her wins even more than she does herself — and the feeling is mutual. “You can’t out-happy Gayle,” Oprah said with a smile. “I’m just as joyful for her accomplishments as she is for mine.”

Separately, Oprah has previously shared touching details about her relationship with longtime partner Stedman Graham, describing some of the most romantic gestures he’s done for her over the years.