Concerning Oprah Winfrey’s health, Gayle King is providing an update.
Keep reading to find out why she was in the ER…
King, 69, decided to FaceTime Winfrey later that day to help correct the record after revealing on CBS Mornings on Tuesday, June 11, that the 70-year-old had been hospitalized due to a stomach virus and dehydration.
As Winfrey addressed her absence from a scheduled appearance on the morning show to discuss her next book club selection, David Wroblewski’s Familiaris, King broke the news of Winfrey’s health.
King verified that the veteran talk show host was not in the hospital in a video that was posted to Instagram.
“I never said you were hospitalized, I did say that you had a stomach something, was coming out of both sides, which it was,” remarked King in the clip.
Winfrey answered, “I was in the emergency room; I was so dehydrated. 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.”
Then, Winfrey said that she’s “not 100 [percent], I’m on my way to 100,” and that the same virus has also made five members of her family sick.
“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. That’s the only point I was trying to make,” Regarding Winfrey’s absence—which the philanthropist stated was the “first ever” book club pick she had missed.
Winfrey said, “I was too weak to get on the plane.”
The Color Purple actress urged people to try and avoid contracting the virus by washing their hands, citing that the doctor had informed her that it can be spread via objects like railings and doorknobs.
In response, Winfrey said, “No I thought what you were trying to do was explain why I wasn’t there and doing that in a definitive way.” King also asked Winfrey whether she was “offended” by her disclosing the news about her health.
“Everybody I’ve ever known who has access to my email has called me to say, ‘Are you alright?’ Thanks!” She laughed as she added.
King observed, “This is Oprah’s ‘I’m alright’ face.”
“A first for @cbsmornings, announcing @oprah’s latest book club pick #Familiaris without Oprah! She was sidelined with a stomach virus that caused such dehydration that she went to the hospital to get an IV drip,” King said as the caption for the photo.
“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. The answer is yes! And now let’s go straight to the source,” the journalist added.
King’s remarks follow her June 11 broadcast remarks about Winfrey, in which she stated, “She had some kind of stomach thing—stomach flu—stuff was coming out of both ends.”
“I won’t get too graphic. Needless to say, she ended up in the hospital, dehydration, had to get an IV,” King added, calling it “a very serious thing” and stating that her buddy needed to take some time off.
“She will be okay,” King said to the audience, “I hope she’s not mad at me for sharing that detail. But I wanted to make it clear, though, that it mattered to her and that it really bothered her that she couldn’t be here for you today.”
“Ms. Winfrey is recovering following a stomach virus and received an IV due to dehydration at the recommendation of her doctor,” a representative for the actress told PEOPLE. “She is resting and feeling better every day.”
Shortly after, the performer yells, “F**k you,” as he is escorted away from the audience.
It shouldn’t be necessary for celebrities to be kind to nasty people. We hope De Niro’s answer demonstrates that they are also people!
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