ILOSM family, by now most of us have heard the long standing rumors that Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are lesbian lovers and that Oprah’s man of 30 years, Stedman Graham, is simply a “beard” for Oprah (which implies that he’s a decoy to throw the public off).
Throughout the years many folks have been suspicious about them, not because they’ve been best friends for about 40 years, but because they’ve seemingly been joined at the hip for the entire duration.
Well, Gayle and Oprah did an interview a while back, to thoroughly address whether they or not they have ever been, or ever will be, lesbian boo-thangs. Check out their candid conversation with their interviewer, Lisa, for O Magazine:
Oprah Winfrey (c) with her lifetime partner, Stedman Graham; and best friend, Gayle King
“People are still saying that?”
Lisa: Well, let’s get right to it! Every time I tell somebody, “I’m interviewing Oprah and Gayle,” the response is always the same: “Oh. [Long pause] Are they…you know…together?”
Oprah Winfrey: You’re kidding. People are still saying that?
L: Every single person. And I say, “No, I don’t think so.” And invariably, they respond with something like “You know, you’re very naive.”
Oprah: I understand why people think we’re gay. There isn’t a definition in our culture for this kind of bond between women. So I get why people have to label it—how can you be this close without it being sexual? How else can you explain a level of intimacy where someone always loves you, always respects you, admires you?
Gayle King: Wants the best for you.
Oprah: Wants the best for you in every single situation of your life. Lifts you up. Supports you. Always! That’s an incredibly rare thing between even the closest of friends.
OPRAH & GAYLE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE
Throwback photo of Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King
Gayle: The truth is, if we were gay, we would so tell you, because there’s nothing wrong with being gay.
Oprah: Yeah. But for people to still be asking the question, when I’ve said it and said it and said it, that means they think I’m a liar. And that bothers me.
Gayle: Well, particularly given how open you’ve been about everything else in your life.
Oprah: I’ve told nearly everything there is to tell. All my stuff is out there. People think I’d be so ashamed of being gay that I wouldn’t admit it? Oh, please.
LESBIAN RUMORS MAKE IT TOUGH FOR GAYLE “TO GET A DATE”
Lisa: Do the rumors bother you, Gayle?
Gayle: Not anymore, but I used to say, “Oprah, you have to do something. It’s hard enough for me to get a date on a Saturday night. You’ve got to go on the air and stop it!” And then you realize you really can’t stop it. And, you know, somebody made a good point: “Well, every time we see you, you’re together,” which is true.
Oprah and Gayle
Oprah: We were just down in the Bahamas—I was giving a wedding for my niece there. And we’re having this big party in my suite. And who comes walking in—
Gayle: With my suitcase.
Oprah: With her suitcase! And I knew what all the waiters, what everybody was thinking: “They’re gay. This proves it. Has to be, because Stedman isn’t around.”
Gayle: And sure enough, the tabloid headline was OPRAH’S HIDEAWAY WITH GAL PAL. Ridiculous. But that said, I have to admit, if Oprah were a man, I would marry her.
Lisa: Sorry, Gayle, I just don’t buy it. Everyone knows Oprah’s not tall enough for you.
Oprah: She has a point.
Gayle: I do like ’em big.
Hopefully this will finally put those Oprah and Gayle lesbian rumors to rest.
