Oprah Winfrey has been seen in a video for the first time since it was reported that she was hospitalized. The media mogul, who has always been outspoken, sat down for a conversation with her dear friend Gayle King. Setting the record straight directly, Winfrey and King’s candidness sparked notable commentary online.
CBS’s Gayle King, 69, took to Instagram on June 12 to clear up the recent announcement that media icon Oprah Winfrey, 70, was hospitalized. Joining King in the video post was the legend herself, Winfrey. Despite the reassurance and clarity both of them gave concerning Winfrey’s health, the public still believes something is amiss.
Oprah Winfrey talking with Gayle King about her stomach virus, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
In King’s post, which was filmed to announce the exciting new pick for Winfrey’s book club—”Familiaris” by David Wroblewski, she was seen conversing with Winfrey via a video call that King took from her office. At the start of the video, King clarified that she had never once said that Winfrey had been hospitalized.
Gayle King talking with Oprah Winfrey about the hospitalization reports, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
“I did say that you had a stomach something,” she explained. Winfrey then interjects to say, “I was in the emergency room for—I was so—” King then interrupts her to finish, “Dehydrated.”
Oprah Winfrey talking with Gayle King about her stomach virus, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
Winfrey agrees and continues to explain how she was not able to keep enough water in her system in order to hydrate. Thus, she went to the emergency room. She ended her statement with, “And that’s just it.”
Oprah Winfrey talking with Gayle King about her stomach virus, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
Although nothing immediately life-threatening prompted her visit to the ER, King and Winfrey admitted that the TV host still feels a little weak. However, Winfrey reassured, “I’m not 100. I’m on my way to 100.”
Oprah Winfrey spotted in Los Angeles, California on March 14, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
King then discloses that there was some type of bug going around in the location where Winfrey was, to which Winfrey confirmed, “Yeah, five people in my household had the same thing.”
Oprah Winfrey talking with Gayle King about her stomach virus, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
She then gave a PSA to the public, advising, “This is what I would say, I would say keep your hands washed because I hear it’s being transmitted through—the doctor told me that it lives like on the doorknobs and railings […] for like 10 hours.”
During their discussion, King reiterates that aside from clearing up any confusion, she wanted to show how badly Winfrey wanted to appear on “CBSMornings” to announce her club’s latest book pick. This was the first time Winfrey was unable to do so.
Cheekily reiterating why she said what she said, King stated, “The point I was trying to make, America, is that it had to be something that would keep her from getting on a plane and coming. That’s the only point I was trying to make.”
Gayle King talking with Oprah Winfrey about the hospitalization reports, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
Backing King up, Winfrey confirmed she was too weak to get on a plane, after which King mentioned how her intention was simply to be honest in letting people know what was going on. As the two discuss the matter further, King gets interrupted by another alert citing that Winfrey has been hospitalized, which prompts them to chuckle.
Gayle King talking with Oprah Winfrey about the hospitalization reports, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
Checking in with her friend, she then asks Winfrey if she was offended by what she had said and what happened. King further emphasized her belief that she didn’t think it would have been something upsetting to her friend; otherwise, she would not have done it.
Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey at the 66th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California on February 4, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Winfrey confirms that she never took it in a bad way and accepted that King was only trying to explain what was going on with her in a definitive way. Adding some lightness to the situation, Winfrey sarcastically thanks King for being the cause of everyone reaching out to her via her email to check on her.
Oprah Winfrey talking with Gayle King about her stomach virus, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
Closing out their discussion, King mentions, “This is Oprah’s I’m alright face […] alright I’m gonna post this!” The clip then ends after Winfrey is heard in the background shouting a cheerful, “Bye!”
Oprah Winfrey talking with Gayle King about her stomach virus, posted on June 12, 2024 | Source: Instagram/gayleking
Alongside the video post, King’s lengthy caption reads, “A first for @cbsmornings, announcing @oprah’s latest book club pick #Familiaris without Oprah! She was sidelined with a stomach virus that caused such dehydration that she went to the hospital to get an IV drip.”
It goes on to note, “I thought I made that clear but next thing I know I’m surprised to see headlines that scream ‘Oprah’s hospitalized!’ (She was NOT!) And I’m bombarded with calls asking if Oprah is okay. The answer is yes!”
