Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and moreStay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more <\/p>\n
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Oprah Winfrey is setting the record straight on her relationship with Gayle King after years of dating rumors. <\/p>\n
The 70-year-old producer may not be married to her longtime partner Stedman Graham, but she\u2019s not romantically involved with her best friend either. Still, Winfrey and King, 69, have been speculated to be more than friends for a while. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor years, people used to say we were gay, and listen, we were up against that forever,\u201d the former talk show host admitted in a recent podcast recording of Moments That Make Us with Melinda French Gates. <\/p>\n
Winfrey and Gates were also joined by King, who isn\u2019t currently dating anyone. According to the CBS broadcast journalist, she used to beg Winfrey to introduce the topic on her eponymous television program. She noted: \u201cI used to say to Oprah: \u2018You\u2019ve gotta do a show on this. \u2018Cause it\u2019s hard enough for me to get a date on Saturday night with people thinking we\u2019re gay.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we were gay, we\u2019d tell you,\u201d King bluntly added. As for why so many have accused the two women of being romantically linked, the media personalities believe it\u2019s because so many people aren\u2019t accustomed to seeing two women have a close, platonic friendship. <\/p>\n
Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King have been friends since 1976 (Getty Images)Winfrey said: \u201cOne of the things I started to think was that maybe people aren\u2019t accustomed to seeing women with this kind of truth bond.\u201d <\/p>\n
But now, Gates believes Winfrey and King\u2019s friendship is an ideal example and model for society. The two share a \u201cdeep, true\u201d relationship for many to look up to and learn from.<\/p>\n
\u201cGayle is happier for me, for any kind of success or victory or challenge I get through, than I am for myself,\u201d Winfrey remarked. \u201cAnd I feel as happy as she does. I can\u2019t be happier than she can.\u201d <\/p>\n
The two powerhouse A-listers and activists have been friends since they were young journalists since 1976, both working for the WJZ station in Baltimore. Nearly 10 years later, King made her first appearance on Winfrey\u2019s show for a segment on celebrity friendships. <\/p>\n
Over the years, the duo has spoken highly of one another, crediting each other for motivating and empowering them in times of need. <\/p>\n
In the 2006 edition of O, The Oprah Magazine, Winfrey admitted: \u201cSomething about this relationship feels otherworldly to me, like it was designed by a power and a hand greater than my own.\u201d <\/p>\n
She continued: \u201cWhatever this friendship is, it\u2019s been a very fun ride \u2013 and we\u2019ve taken it together.\u201d <\/p>\n
King was married to William Bumpus from 1982 to 1993, welcoming two children \u2013 Kirby and William Jr \u2013 together. Meanwhile, Winfrey has been dating Graham since 1986. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and moreStay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our\u00a0privacy policy Oprah Winfrey is setting the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n