Ethermac|Oprah addresses Gayle King affair rumors: 'People used to say we were gay'

Oprah Winfrey is Ethermacaddressing a long-standing rumor about her and pal Gayle King.

The media mogul addressed the once-incessant story of her and best friend King, 69, having an affair, in an episode of Melinda French Gates' podcast "Moments That Make Us."

The conversation ranged from getting older to leaning on one another during their biggest life moments and navigating being friends and public figures.

"For years, people used to say we were gay, and listen, we were up against that forever," said Winfrey, 70. "And people still may think it."

Though King is currently single, Winfrey has been with longtime partner Stedman Graham for nearly four decades.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

"And I used to say to Oprah, 'You've gotta do a show on this. 'Cause it's hard enough for me to get a date on Saturday night with people thinking we're gay,'" King said. "If we were gay, we'd tell you."

In spite of the rumors, Gates said King and Winfrey's bond has "taught society ... that women can have deep, true friendships."

Winfrey agreed: "One of the things I started to think was that maybe people aren't accustomed to seeing women with this kind of truth bond."

Gayle Kingwears 'Oprah is fine' T-shirt after BFF's stomach virus hospitalization

The "CBS Mornings" anchor and Winfrey have been friends since their early twenties, after meeting at local Baltimore TV station WJZ.

They've been in each others' lives for several major life and job changes, including the birth of King's two children — Kirby Bumpus and William Bumpus Jr. — her divorce from attorney Bill Bumpus in 1993, their respective media careers and health challenges, including Winfrey's bout with gastroenteritis earlier this year.

"Gayle is happier for me, for any kind of success or victory or challenge I get through, than I am for myself," Winfrey said. "And I feel as happy as she does. I can't be happier than she can. You cannot surpass (that)."