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Gayle King – the Emmy award-winning journalist and BFF of Oprah Winfrey – says her media mogul pal was a pillar of strength for her when she was getting divorced in 1993.
Gayle (67) and Oprah (68) have been besties for 46 years, the journalist told Brooke Shields on her Now What? With Brooke Shields podcast recently.
When Gayle was getting divorced from her ex, William Bumpus, she turned to Oprah for support, she told the actress.
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She told Brooke that she initially only told Oprah and her mom, Peggy, about her ex-husband’s cheating after catching him being unfaithful in 1990.
“I was married to someone who found monogamy very challenging – which is difficult in a marriage," Gayle told Brooke.
“Oprah – who has never been married and never had children – is one of the best therapists ever," the mom of two told Brooke.
"If she had a second career, it would be [a therapist]. When I first caught [my ex] I didn't tell anyone but Oprah and my mother. I knew I could trust them,” she said.
Gayle and William were married in 1982 and divorced in 1993. They have two children, Kirby (32) and Will (34).
In a 2006 interview Oprah said that she didn’t think the marriage between Gayle and William would last.
“I was a little sad. Did I ever tell you that? Mostly because I just didn't think it was going to work out,” she said to Gayle.
At the time of the interview Gayle was surprised.
Gayle and Oprah discussed their friendship and how they've supported each other, in an interview with People earlier this year.
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“Having somebody that not only stands in the gap for you but who is happy for your happiness for 40-something years,” Oprah said, describing their strong friendship.
Gayle said, “I could trust her about anything. Her advice is always very good and she is a big ‘I told you so’ person.
“If you don’t take that advice, you will hear about it,” she laughed.
In 2016 Gayle’s ex apologised publicly to her, saying in a statement that, “I have been haunted with this life-altering choice. Though I have dealt with this privately . . . I publicly apologise for the major transgression that dramatically changed all of our lives."
Gayle and William became grandparents last year, when their daughter, Kirby, gave birth to a son, Luca Lynn Miller.
Sources: PEOPLE, Youtube (PEOPLE), iHeart Podcast, Showbiz Cheatsheet, O Magazine, PageSix
