Oprah Winfrey Squashes Rumors Over Split With Gayle King (VIDEO)
Oprah Winfrey squashed rumors that she and best friend Gayle King were ending their friendship in a letter to talk show host Wendy Williams yesterday.
Rumors were sparked that the lifelong friends were embroiled in a feud when King announced that she was leaving Winfrey's television network, OWN, to take an anchor position on CBS' The Early Show two weeks ago. King decided to leave her former radio and television show on Winfrey's network, The Gayle King Show, in order to focus on her new gig.
The National Enquirer reported that Winfrey was "devastated" to see her friend go and felt personally betrayed.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Oprah is terribly hurt that Gayle could be so ungrateful," a source allegedly told the publication. "She begged Gayle not to go, but Gayle said she just couldn’t pass up the opportunity of a lifetime. And I think she stunned Oprah when she kept saying, ‘It’s a major network!’ To lose Gayle and her talk show at this crucial time is just heartbreaking for Oprah.”
Williams perpetuated the rumors on her talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, shortly after the news was announced.
"Gayle, is it the beginning of the end with you and Oprah?" she asked. "Please say it ain't so!"
However, a spokesperson for Oprah sent the talk show host a letter to clear up any misunderstandings, which Williams read aloud on the air.
"I know there's speculation that Gayle and Oprah had a falling out because Gayle will be hosting the new morning show on CBS," she read. "I wanted to make sure everyone knows that there is only happiness for Gayle and this wonderful opportunity."
Over the years, the media has speculated Winfrey and King are gay and that their relationship is more than platonic. However, both have denied the accusations. Winfrey has also stated numerous times that if she was gay, she wouldn't hide it from the public.
