Oprah Winfrey, 70, Seen in Video for the First Time after Hospitalization

CBS’s Gayle King, 69, took to Instagram on June 12 to clear up the recent announcement that media icon Oprah Winfrey, 70, was hospitalized. Joining King in the video post was the legend herself, Winfrey. Despite the reassurance and clarity both of them gave concerning Winfrey’s health, the public still believes something is amiss.

In King’s post, which was filmed to announce the exciting new pick for Winfrey’s book club—”Familiaris” by David Wroblewski, she was seen conversing with Winfrey via a video call that King took from her office. At the start of the video, King clarified that she had never once said that Winfrey had been hospitalized.

“I did say that you had a stomach something,” she explained. Winfrey then interjects to say, “I was in the emergency room for—I was so—” King then interrupts her to finish, “Dehydrated.”

Winfrey agrees and continues to explain how she was not able to keep enough water in her system in order to hydrate. Thus, she went to the emergency room. She ended her statement with, “And that’s just it.”

Although nothing immediately life-threatening prompted her visit to the ER, King and Winfrey admitted that the TV host still feels a little weak. However, Winfrey reassured, “I’m not 100. I’m on my way to 100.”

King then discloses that there was some type of bug going around in the location where Winfrey was, to which Winfrey confirmed, “Yeah, five people in my household had the same thing.”

She then gave a PSA to the public, advising, “This is what I would say, I would say keep your hands washed because I hear it’s being transmitted through—the doctor told me that it lives like on the doorknobs and railings […] for like 10 hours.”

During their discussion, King reiterates that aside from clearing up any confusion, she wanted to show how badly Winfrey wanted to appear on “CBSMornings” to announce her club’s latest book pick. This was the first time Winfrey was unable to do so.

Cheekily reiterating why she said what she said, King stated, “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.”

Backing King up, Winfrey confirmed she was too weak to get on a plane, after which King mentioned how her intention was simply to be honest in letting people know what was going on. As the two discuss the matter further, King gets interrupted by another alert citing that Winfrey has been hospitalized, which prompts them to chuckle.

Checking in with her friend, she then asks Winfrey if she was offended by what she had said and what happened. King further emphasized her belief that she didn’t think it would have been something upsetting to her friend; otherwise, she would not have done it.

Winfrey confirms that she never took it in a bad way and accepted that King was only trying to explain what was going on with her in a definitive way. Adding some lightness to the situation, Winfrey sarcastically thanks King for being the cause of everyone reaching out to her via her email to check on her.

Closing out their discussion, King mentions, “This is Oprah’s I’m alright face […] alright I’m gonna post this!” The clip then ends after Winfrey is heard in the background shouting a cheerful, “Bye!”

Alongside the video post, King’s lengthy caption reads, “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.”

It goes on to note, “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!”

Although King and Winfrey’s video message was crystal clear in falsifying that she had been hospitalized, some social media users still think the pair are not being entirely honest. “No, side effects of the medication… just be honest. I will still love you ❤️,” penned an Instagram user.

Similarly, another asserted, “This is the beginning [of] Ozempic side effect that she’s experiencing.” One admirer simply wished Winfrey well, writing, “Prayers for Lady O and her family.”

Unlike what some may believe, Winfrey made it abundantly clear that she went to the ER as a result of a stomach virus which caused dehydration. However, she hasn’t shied away from the fact that she has made use of dieting measures, like weight-loss medication. Whether or not that includes Ozempic, specifically, is not confirmed.

In a show segment she did with WeightWatchers in May, the 70-year-old TV personality gave an empowering speech in which she divulged her experience. “I’m done with the shaming […] and the purpose of this conversation is to help you be done with it. […] Stop judging others for the way they choose to live,” she started.

Continuing with her opening monologue, Winfrey revealed, “Everybody is just doing the best they can […] I’m happy with the choices […] that I’ve been able to make with myself […] I also want to acknowledge that I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture.”

She highlighted that she has actively promoted dieting culture through all her platforms, including her magazines and her talk show. “I cannot tell you how many weight loss shows and makeovers I have done. And they have been a staple since I’ve been working in television,” Winfrey said.

Referencing the extreme liquid diet she had once promoted years ago on her show, Winfrey confessed, “I’ve shared how that famous wagon of fat moment on ‘The Oprah Show,’ is one of my biggest regrets. It sent a message that starving yourself with a liquid diet set a standard for people watching that I nor anybody else could uphold.”

Far from helping her maintain her goal weight, the diet actually caused her to gain the weight back the very next day. Oprah Winfrey then referenced a favorite teaching from iconic poet Maya Angelou about when someone knows better, they do better, which has helped her own her flaws.

While the empowered entrepreneur is currently on the mend from her stomach virus, which her spokesperson also made clear when news that she was sick was first announced, that did not stop fans from flooding social media with get well soon messages upon reading the announcement.

The spokesperson’s statement 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.” Many quickly went online to send their well-wishes.

One person commented, “Prayers for a speedy recovery.” Another added, “Please don’t rush back, take care. Peace.” A third supporter wrote, “Sending prayers and healing light and love.”