Oprah Winfrey, Bob Iger, Katie Couric And Others Pay Tribute To The Late Barbara Walters
By Favour Adegoke on December 31, 2022 at 10:45 AM EST
American TV personality, Oprah Winfrey, pays tribute to late veteran journalist Barbara Walters calling her a "powerful and gracious role model." The legendary broadcast journalist and "The View" creator passed peacefully in her home, according to reports.
In addition to the tributes from famous people and other TV personalities, Walters received praise from Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, where she spent most of her career. Iger called Walters "a true legend."
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Barbara Walters Died At Age 93
According to Insider, the venerable broadcast journalist passed away on Friday evening at the age of 93 in the presence of her loved ones and family.
"Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones," Walter's publicist, Cindi Berger, revealed. "She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists but for all women."
Walters was born on September 25, 1929, to Dena and Louis "Lou" Walters. She was exposed to celebrities at a young age because her father worked in the entertainment industry, which Walters said gave her a valuable lesson.
Walters is renowned for her skill in conducting interviews with prominent figures and famous people. Her repertoire of interviews includes every US president, from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, and celebrities like Michael Jackson, Grace Kelly, Whitney Houston, and more.
Oprah Winfrey Honors Barbara Walters' Memories
Media tycoon, Winfrey, paid tribute to Walters on social media after hearing the news of her passing, calling her a strong and generous role model.
"Without Barbara Walters, there wouldn't have been me— or any other woman you see on evening, morning, and daily news," Winfrey captioned with a photo of her and Walters on her Instagram. "She was indeed a Trailblazer. I did my very first television audition with her in mind the whole time."
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She continued by expressing her gratitude that she served as such a strong and kind example, writing, "Grateful to have known her. Grateful to have followed in her Light."
Winfrey had never hidden the fact that Walters was a huge inspiration to her when she first began her career as a television personality, noting that at the age of 17, she aspired to be a TV journalist like Walters.
She stunned Walters with a guest appearance and invited hundreds of female journalists, including Katie Couric, Hoda Kotb, and Gayle King, to her farewell visit on "The View" in 2014.
Bob Iger Pays Tribute To The Legendary Journalist
The Walt Disney Company's boss also honored Walter's memory as he paid tributes to her, adding that she was a true legend. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC, where Walters spent most of her career.
Iger took to Twitter to pay his respect by saying, "Barbara was a true legend, a pioneer not just for women in journalism but for journalism itself. She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time, from heads of state and leaders of regimes to the biggest celebrities and sports icons."
He added, "I had the pleasure of calling Barbara a colleague for more than three decades, but more importantly, I was able to call her a dear friend. She will be missed by all of us at The Walt Disney Company, and we send our deepest condolences to her daughter, Jacqueline."
The 12-time Emmy award-winning broadcaster became the world's highest-paid newscaster upon leaving NBC for ABC in the mid-70s, where she co-hosted the "ABC Evening News" with Harry Reasoner.
Other Celebrities Pay Their Respect To Barbara Walters
Walters is highly regarded as the woman that paved the way for other women in newcasting and television broadcasting. Following her death, many female stars and TV presenters have also paid tribute to her.
Katie Couric, 65, took to Instagram to disclose that Walters would oftentimes similarly compare themselves because neither of them was "particularly glamorous," stating that she was a "lucky recipient of her kindness."
Former World No.1 tennis player Billie Jean King wrote a tribute on Twitter, calling Walters a "trailblazer." Her Tweet read, "Pioneering TV news broadcaster Barbara Walters has died. A true trailblazer, she was the 1st woman anchor on the evening news. And I was privileged to know her. When she interviewed me, it was clear she did her homework. She was always prepared. May she rest in power."
CNN anchor Abby Phillip called Walters "A true icon in our industry and a trailblazer for so many women..." She added, "Rest in peace."