Gayle King Says Oprah Dating Rumors “Really Bothered” Her After Divorce

For a couple of decades, Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey have shared one of the most famous friendships in television history. But along with that close bond came years of speculation that King now says once deeply affected her personal life and her marriage.

During a recent appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, King opened up about the long-running rumors suggesting she and Oprah were secretly romantically involved. While the rumors may have seemed harmless to some fans, King admitted they became especially painful after her divorce from ex-husband William Bumpus in 1993.

“It used to really bother me,” King confessed during the interview, explaining that tabloids once claimed her marriage ended because she and Oprah were allegedly in a secret relationship.

Gary Coleman’s Death Still Raises Questions 16 Years Later — And His Loved Ones Haven’t Stopped Asking Them

King made it clear that the rumors were false and emphasized that there would be nothing wrong with it if they were true. “If we were gay, we would tell you,” she said, adding that she has always preferred men.

At the time, King said she even encouraged Oprah to publicly address the rumors because they were beginning to impact her dating life. According to King, Oprah felt the best strategy was to ignore the gossip entirely rather than give it more attention. So she did.

The conversation offered a rare glimpse into how celebrity rumors can affect public figures behind the scenes — especially when speculation begins to overshadow real-life struggles like divorce, family, and dating.

Today, King says she has reached a point where the gossip no longer affects her the way it once did. She explained that social media has intensified public criticism and online rumors, but she now focuses more on the opinions of people she genuinely trusts rather than strangers online.

Despite decades of rumors, the friendship between Oprah and Gayle has remained one of the most enduring relationships in media. The pair first met in 1976 while working together at a Baltimore television station and have remained close ever since.