Gayle King Assures Fans That 'Oprah Is Okay' After Hospital Visit For Stomach Flu
Oprah Winfrey, 70, visited the emergency room after she became dehydrated during a stomach flu.
Her best friend Gayle King shared the news on CBS Mornings after Oprah missed an appearance.
Gayle has since reassured listeners that Oprah is "fine."
Gayle King is letting fans know that, “Oprah is okay!”
After the CBS Mornings host made headlines last week for telling the world that her BFF Oprah Winfrey was in the hospital, Gayle is setting the record straight.
“I'm here to tell you, favorite listeners, Oprah is okay!” she said in a June 13 episode of Gayle King In The House on SiriusXM. “She had to go to the hospital, and she got an IV drip. She was fine and she is fine.”
On June 11, Oprah Winfrey, 70, missed a scheduled appearance on her BFF Gayle King's show CBS Mornings because she was sick with the stomach flu. She was supposed to discuss her newest book club selection, Familiaris by David Wroblewski, with Gayle, but wasn’t feeling well enough to make the segment. "She had some kind of stomach thing—stomach flu—stuff was coming out of both ends,” Gayle shared with the audience.
Gayle, 69, explained that Oprah was okay but required hospitalization. "I won't get too graphic," she added. "Needless to say, she ended up in the hospital, dehydration, had to get an IV. It was a very serious thing."
Oprah was apparently trying to "rally," Gayle added, but ended up not being able to make it.
Naturally, the news caused an outcry of concern among Oprah fans. Later that day, the pair FaceTimed to clarify her condition, filming the call for her Instagram.
"She was sidelined with a stomach virus that caused such dehydration that she went to the hospital to get an IV drip. I thought I made that clear but next thing I know I’m surprised to see headlines that scream 'Oprah’s hospitalized!' (She was NOT!)" Gayle wrote in her caption. "And I’m bombarded with calls asking if Oprah is okay. The answer is yes!"
On June 13, Gayle even shared photos of herself in a custom shirt, poking fun at the public concerns for her longtime friend.
"Just got back to the office, and 10 people asked me the same question...here's the answer! And swipe left," Gayle wrote in her IG caption. Her black t-shirt read, “OPRAH is FINE! Thank you for asking.” The back reads: “She appreciates your concern!”
Fans loved the look on Gayle, with Oprah Daily commenting, "Now we need to get Lady O a shirt that says ‘Whatever Gayle says’ in the front 😂."
During her on-air chat with Gayle, Oprah shared that she visited the emergency room after becoming extremely dehydrated while battling the stomach flu. "I had a dry mouth and I couldn't keep enough water down to get hydrated, so I went to the emergency room for that, and that's just it."
While she's currently at home resting, the media mogul explained that she's "not 100 percent, I'm on my way to 100." She added that five people in her household are also sick with the illness.
Gayle said she shared all the TMI details with good intentions. "The point I was trying to make, America, is that it had to be something that would keep her from getting on a plane and coming," she said. "That's the only point I was trying to make."
The host later doubled down on SiriusXM, adding, “When I called [Oprah] and told her, she goes, 'I don't know why people are acting like diarrhea is unusual. Sometimes people have it.'”
Oprah wasn't offended at all, telling fans, "I thought what you were trying to do was explain why I wasn't there, and doing that in a definitive way." She jokingly added, "Everybody I've ever known who has access to my email has called me to say, 'Are you alright?' Thanks!"
Gayle echoed this sentiment on her radio show. “Oprah said everybody she's ever known her entire life, from Swaziland to Australia, childhood friends, 'Are you okay?' I'm praying for you,'” she said.
Since she was "too weak to get on the plane," Oprah said this was the first Book Club appearance she'd ever missed. However, after the IV drip, Gayle said the star “is really, really fine.”
Overall, the Color Purple star stressed the importance of people washing their hands to prevent getting the stomach flu. Her doctor told her the virus can be transmitted on things that many people touch, including door knobs and railings.
Glad you are feeling better, Oprah!
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