Gayle King took to Instagram on Tuesday night to clarify details about her best friend Oprah Winfrey’s health.
The 69-year-old news anchor announced this in the last episode of CBS mornings that her longtime friend, 70, couldn’t make it to her famous book club segment because of a stomach virus.
However, later in the day, King recorded a video chat with the billionaire mogul to clear things up and let fans know that she was doing well and not in the hospital as previously thought.
Gayle wrote in a caption to her million followers: “A first for @cbsmornings, announcing @oprah’s latest book club pick without Oprah!”
At one point during the phone call, in which Oprah appeared on a small tablet on King’s desk, the journalist asked if she had insulted the former talk show host.
Gayle King took to Instagram on Tuesday night to clarify details about her best friend Oprah Winfrey’s health
The 69-year-old news anchor had announced on the latest episode of CBS Mornings that her longtime boyfriend, 70, couldn’t make it to her famous book club segment due to a stomach virus
Oprah responded, “No, I thought you were trying to explain why I wasn’t there in a definitive way.”
Gayle’s caption continued, “She was sidelined by a stomach virus that caused such dehydration that she went to the hospital to get an IV.”
“I never said you were in the hospital. I did say you had something in your stomach, it came from both sides, and it was,” the mother of two explained in the clip shared to Instagram.
Oprah cut it off to confirm, “I was in the emergency room. I was so…’
“Dehydrated,” Gayle helped her explain before the OWN founder continued, “I couldn’t keep enough water down to get hydrated, so I went to the emergency room for that and that was it.”
King commented, “You’re still a little weak, it seems,” and Winfrey agreed, “I’m not 100 years old.” [percent]. I’m on my way to a hundred.’
She also revealed: ‘Five people in my household had the same thing. I would say keep washing your hands because I hear it’s transmitted through… the doctor told me that [the virus] lives on the doorknobs and railings for about ten hours.
“So if you come across someone who’s been in the house and they’ve gone down the stairs, you’ve gone down the stairs and you haven’t washed your hands, you’re going to get it.”
Gayle wrote in a caption to her million followers: ‘A first for @cbsmornings, announcing @Oprah’s latest book club pick without Oprah!’; the friends pictured in December 2023
“The only point I was trying to make is to show how much you wanted to be there to promote the book because you never miss it,” Gayle said about why she went public with Oprah’s affairs on the morning show.
“The point I was trying to make, America, is that it had to be something that kept her from getting on the plane and coming. That’s the only point I was trying to make,” she doubled down.
Gayle told her best friend of decades, “I didn’t really think it was a big deal or that it would be something that would upset you, otherwise I would never have said it.”
Oprah agreed: “Yes, I know you wouldn’t have done that.”
She later joked, “Everyone I’ve ever known who has access to my email has called me to say, ‘Are you okay?’ Thank you!’
Oprah hosted the wedding of Gayle’s son William Bumpus Jr. this year. on her estate
The friendship between the women spans decades; pictured at the 2024 Grammys
When asked about Oprah’s current health on the morning show, Gayle said, “She’s going to be fine.” She’ll be fine.’
Gayle was interviewing novelist David Wroblewski, whose new release Familiaris was selected for Oprah’s book club.
Oprah usually introduces her book club picks herself, but her illness prevented her from appearing on air Tuesday, leaving the task to Gayle.
After vividly explaining the reason behind Oprah’s absence, Gayle said, “I hope she’s not mad at me for sharing that detail.”