Gayle King airs, then clears the air, about Oprah Winfrey’s hospitalization

We all want people in our lives who will talk positively about us in rooms we’re not in – and Gayle King is definitely considered one of those people. The “CBS Mornings” anchor needed to clear the air this week after potentially revealing that Oprah Winfrey was hospitalized for stomach problems.

On Tuesday, trying to elucidate Winfrey’s absence in an interview on “CBS Mornings” about Oprah’s latest Book Club selection, “Familiaris” by David Wroblewski, King explained that her longtime friend is gravely in poor health.

“She had something in her stomach, stomach flu, stuff coming out of both ends,” King said USA today. “I won’t be too graphic. But needless to say, she went to the hospital (with) dehydration (and) had to have a drip.”

Later that day, King continued Instagram with a clip of her conversation with Winfrey. First, King desired to make clear that she didn’t say “hospitalized.”

“I said there’s something in your stomach, it’s coming out of both sides, and it was,” King said in the video.

“I was in the emergency room, I was very dehydrated,” Winfrey replied. “I had a dry mouth and couldn’t retain enough water to stay hydrated, so I went to the emergency room with it and that was it.”

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Winfrey, who noted that five people in her household even have the same disease, stated that she doesn’t quite feel 100% yet, “But I’m on my way to 100.”

In addition to explaining any of the media mogul’s concerns, King explained why she shared the news in the first place.

“I desired to say, America, it needed to be something that will stop her from boarding the plane and coming. That’s the only point I desired to make,” King added.

According to her, it was the first-ever book club selection that Winfrey had missed.

“I was too weak to get on the plane,” she confirmed.

True to form, King didn’t attempt to pry into her friend’s personal affairs; she was just attempting to defend her friend in her own way. When King first made the announcement on “CBS Mornings,” many individuals became concerned. Some wondered whether Winfrey had experienced complications from Ozempic. After the couple clarified the matter, many individuals on social media found the situation humorous and relatable. The next day, King doubled down on his role as Winfrey’s unofficial messenger: wearing a black T-shirt to work with the message “Oprah is doing well! Thank you in your query.” on the front and “She appreciates the concern!” in the back. Ultimately, all parties involved are only pleased that Winfrey is recovering.