Oprah Winfrey had quite a scare earlier this week that sent her to the hospital, and now, her good friend Gayle King is sharing what happened. Let’s delve into the details behind Oprah’s sudden trip to the emergency room.
Gayle King was on board to kick off Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Oprah’s Book Club’ on CBS. Typically, Oprah herself would introduce her book of choice, but this time around, she was noticeably absent from the studio.
Filling in for her friend, Gayle sought to explain to author David Wroblewski, who was in the studio, why Oprah couldn’t personally discuss her book selection, Familiaris.
“I’m so glad you are here and I’m so sorry that Oprah can’t…,” King explained to Wroblewski. “Yesterday, she said, ‘I’m gonna rally, I’m gonna rally.’ Unfortunately, she had some kind of stomach flu where stuff was coming out of both ends.”
King’s co-hosts, Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil, reacted audibly to the news.
“I won’t get too graphic,” King continued, “but needless to say, she ended up in the hospital [for] dehydration and had to get an IV. It was a very serious thing. She’s OK… she will be OK.”
Realizing she might have shared too much, King added, “I hope she’s not mad at me for sharing that detail. I just wanted everyone to know that it really mattered to her to be here today, and it really bothered her that she couldn’t make it.”
King, Burleson, and Dokoupil continued their chat with Wroblewski, who had previously been chosen by Oprah’s Book Club in 2008.
Following Gayle’s revelation, the Oprah Daily Instagram account shared a statement explaining Oprah’s absence from the show.
“@oprah was scheduled to go on @cbsmornings today to announce her latest @oprahsbookclub selection. When she came down with a stomach virus over the weekend, @gayleking—being the best friend she is—offered to make the announcement for her,” the post read. “We are happy to share that after receiving an IV due to dehydration at the recommendation of her doctor, Oprah is feeling much better. We wish her a speedy recovery 🙏🏽.”
The caption was accompanied by an official statement from Oprah and her team. It read, “Ms. Winfrey is recovering following a stomach virus and received an IV due to dehydration at the recommendation of her doctor. She is resting and feeling better every day.”
Later in the day, King conducted a video call with Winfrey during which Oprah clarified that she hadn’t been hospitalized but had received fluids at the emergency room instead.
“I was in the emergency room. I was so dehydrated,” Winfrey explained. “I had dry mouth and I couldn’t keep enough water down to stay hydrated, so I went to the emergency room for that, and that’s just it.”
When asked about her current state, Oprah added, “I’m not 100%, but I’m on my way to 100%.” She noted how appearing on CBS Mornings that day was out of the question since she was “too weak to get on a plane.”
In a follow-up post, King reiterated, “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!) And I’m bombarded with calls asking if Oprah is okay,” King clarified. “The answer is yes! And now let’s go straight to the source.”
It’s a relief to know Oprah is on the mend! The 70-year-old icon holds a special place in many hearts worldwide. We hope she’s back to her lively self very soon. Share this with others who love Oprah to reassure them she’s doing fine!
