Oprah Winfrey Clears Up Mystery Surrounding Her Health Status After Shocking Health Scare

Gayle King has updated viewers on Oprah Winfrey's health status, clarifying that the talk show legend missed her CBS Morning appearance due to a stomach virus and dehydration, not hospitalization.

Despite the illness, Winfrey is recovering and advised handwashing to prevent the virus's spread. King faced misconceptions and reassured fans that Winfrey was improving.

Fans have responded with supportive comments, wishing Oprah Winfrey a speedy recovery following her shocking health scare.

In a video shared on Instagram, King FaceTimed her close friend Winfrey to dispel rumors of hospitalization.

In the short clip, King said: "I never said you were hospitalized; I did say that you had a stomach something was coming out of both sides, which it was."

In response, the "Color Purple" star confirmed the incident, stating: "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."

Winfrey added that she's "not 100 [percent], I'm on my way to 100," noting that others in her household had also fallen ill with the virus.

During their discussion, King clarified that Winfrey hadn't been hospitalized but had sought treatment at the emergency room due to dehydration.

"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," King added of Winfrey's absence, where she was scheduled to announce her latest book club selection — "Familiaris" by David Wroblewski.

"I was too weak to get on the plane," Winfrey added, per People Magazine, noting that her weakness prevented her from boarding a plane for the event, marking the "first ever" book club pick she had missed. The philanthropist also emphasized the importance of handwashing to prevent the spread of the illness, as advised by her doctor.

After King revealed Winfrey's health scare to the public, it raised eyebrows, as many wondered if she had permission to share the information.

However, during King's recent chat with Winfrey, she asked her friend if she was "offended" by the disclosure of her health status, to which Winfrey replied that she was not.

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."

"Everybody I've ever known who has access to my email has called me to say, 'Are you alright?' Thanks!" she added.

In the caption, King wrote, "I thought I made that clear, but next thing I know, I see headlines screaming 'Oprah's hospitalized!' (She was NOT!). I was bombarded with calls asking if Oprah was okay. The answer is yes!"

In the comments, fans expressed concern and sent their well-wishes to Winfrey. One wrote, "We knew you had good intentions, Gayle. Oprah is human, that's not a secret. Illness gets us all at some point. People who don't understand that lack empathy."

Another commented, "Sending healing prayers for Oprah. Love you Gayle because you always keep it real."

One fan remarked, "It was the 'coming out of both ends' statement that had me clutching my pearls. I'm glad she's better because dehydration can lead to more problems if not treated."

A fourth added, "Thank you, Oprah, for not getting on the plane and spreading illness. Feel better soon."

The clarification comes after King's comments on June 11 regarding Winfrey's health, in which she mentioned that the former talk show host "had some kind of stomach thing—stomach flu—stuff was coming out of both ends."

"She will be okay. I hope she's not mad at me for sharing that detail," King reassured viewers. "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."

She added: "I won't get too graphic. Needless to say, she ended up in the hospital, dehydrated had to get an IV."

Winfrey's spokesperson confirmed to People that "Ms. Winfrey is recovering following a stomach virus and received an IV due to dehydration at the recommendation of her doctor," adding: "She is resting and feeling better every day."