Oprah Winfrey: 'I'm Not Even Kinda Lesbian'

By Zach Dionne Posted Dec 8th 2010 01:15PM

Oprah Winfrey: 'I'm Not Lesbian -- I'm Not Even Kinda Lesbian'

In an hourlong ABC interview with Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey again denies any sort of romantic relationship with BFF Gayle King.

"Describe that friendship to me," Walters says.

After a long pause, an emotional Winfrey answers: "She is ... the mother I never had. She is ... the sister everybody would want. She is the friend that everybody deserves. I don't know a better person. I don't know a better person."

Choking back tears and eventually beginning to cry, Oprah continues: "It's making me cry because I'm thinking about ... how much ... I probably have never told her that."

See the interview clip and hear O's exact words on the lesbian rumors after the jump.

Walters says the sit-down with Winfrey is, "Probably the most personal interview I've seen her do. I've never seen her quite as revealing throughout the interview."

Despite the emotional and personal nature of the conversation, Oprah remains as pointed as ever in her speech. "I have said we are not gay enough times. I'm not lesbian ... I'm not even kinda lesbian," Winfrey says. "And the reason why it irritates me is because it means that somebody must think I'm lying. That's number one. Number two, why would you want to hide it? That is not the way I run my life."
See a clip:

Winfrey also talks candidly about her relationship with businessman and entrepreneur Stedman Graham. The two became a couple in 1986, were engaged in 1992, and, according to Barbara Walters, are still very much an item.

"Every time we showed up in public... there'd be another exploitive story," Oprah says. "So I made a conscious effort around 2003, 2004, to pull back on my public appearances with Stedman."

Describing live-in significant other Stedman, Winfrey deems him: "The love ... the lover ... the man ... the partner ... the mate ... I do not know of another man on this planet who could have lived this life with such dignity, with such grace and such respect and humility in it. And still hold his own and be his own."

Winfrey also speaks about never having children and fears about starting her own network, the impetus for her concluding 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' after this season, the 25th for the daily talk show.

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Tags: oprah, oprah winfrey, Oprah Winfrey Network

Comments

(441)

Wednesday 08 December

By Jewell

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I believe you Oprah, it is possible that you and Gayle can be best friends without being in a relationship. I know because before I moved to my current home, I had a best friend for 30+ years and we weren't lesbians and I had a husband. I miss her so much but distance can be a cruel friend at times.

Thursday 09 December

By Trinagurl

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I'm not into trouser trout, but if she is, that's cool.

By J Williams

She is bisexual. Oprah knows how to pick her words. Go to "Smoke-Tip" to save on cigarettes while using a much safer alternative. Lifetime warranty.

By Mia

The most interesting aspect of this story, to me, is Oprah saying she's never expressed those feelings adequately to Gayle. According to both of them, they talk several times a day, every day, and have for decades. How could you have such a great BFF, be as emotive as O is, and never have expressed that in all that time??

By Kevin

Never underestimate Oprah to turn even this into great drama. She is REALLY smart. That Oprah is.

By BTDT

"I'm not lesbian ... I'm not even kinda lesbian,"

Back away from Oprah, her pants are about to catch fire.

By klk

NOW YOU KNOW HOW MICHAEL JACKSON FELT, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE ACCUSED OF SOMETHING YOU DID NOT DO????????????????? I HOPE YOU ROT.

By cease2exist

CARPET MUNCHER!!!

By joy

I have a true friend for over 50years. I love her and had her on insurance policy until children were grown. Did I mention I am married for only half the amount of time. I trust her more than my husband and I love him too, but differently. If I won the lottery family member will be mad, for I will treat her like Oprah have cared for Gayle.

By drexel6337

Gay people do not "get" that you can have extremely close relationships with others of your own sex and have no romantic feelings.

THEY must be starting these rumors because everyone else gets it.

By lorraine

Jewell I agree with you, people can have a best friend and not be gay, I Oprah had put all her business out to the people she and Gayle would never be looked at as gay.

By deb

Oprah is a very strong woman, and I don't care if she's gay. After all, it's the second sex anyway..(hetero and homo) However, if so, be real. Ellen rocks, is adorable, and has not lost any of her fan base..if anything has added to it. Being gay is not thought of in the same way it was a generation ago.
She and Gayle are probably more like sisters, but if not, so what.

By Mandi Pinni

Oprah is right. She had a horrific childhood and needed a sister-type. I too have a dear friend such as that for 30+ years too and just because we have not torn each others hair out or run after each others man as many suspect BFF's would do to each other, does NOT mean either of us are lesbian.

By moring Alisha

I also have a very best gal pal that I miss since moving to another state. We are like sisters. It is possible for men and women to have a best friend of the same sex and not be homosexual. Those who think otherwise have a giant problem.

By toothis

Engaged almost 20 years? gay.

By Lee

Not always...been there done that and still good friends without the sex......why does everyone want to catagorize everyone...very narrow minded................

By Barb

If I had her money, I certainly wouldn't want to get married. She is happy and people just can't stand it. We should all be fortunate enough to have a best friend like Gayle. Why can't people just mind their own business.

By anna

She is engaged? I have no idea if she is gay or not....and why would that matter? Oprah is Oprah regardless of her sexual preferences. Whatever. I do believe though, when people argue that strongly about something, things might not be as the person is trying to prove. Oprah, stop defending yourself and just be who you are.

By secret

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so what? r u saying that it's impossible? you don't know the story so stop hating

By Edna

I do understand why Oprah deny it. She already knows how dangergous her life is if they break up if they try to make love at once.. it will never be same. Oprah rather stays friendship with her than trying it. She is wisdom. I wanted to be friends
with lesbians but they request that I should be like lesbain and I lost a lot of lesbains friends because I stopped to be one of them due to emotional problems with them. Now I am alone myself daily in ten years and other wise I am alright because I keep the Lord being in my heart. I wish to be friends to straight people but it is too late for me. Oprah knows how to be wisdom and friendship with people better than partner or lover. Bless her!

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