Oprah Winfrey conducted an interview on NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna (Feb. 7), where the media mogul said her close friend and journalist Gayle King has been receiving death threats. The revelation stems from King’s recent interview with Lisa Leslie where the former asked the WNBA legend her thoughts on Kobe Bryant’s legacy and sought to discuss his 2003 sexual assault case.
While the interview covers other points, King’s home network, CBS, promoted the clip of her asking Leslie for her stance instead of promoting the full context of the interview. Since that moment, King has received backlash from the masses, which led the reporter to issue a video detailing her perspective.
“She is not doing well,” Winfrey said. “…she is not doing well because she now has death threats and have to now travel with security. She’s feeling very much attacked.” Winfrey added that King has missed out on two days of sleep.
.@Oprah emotionally responds to backlash her friend Gayle King received over King’s recent interview about Kobe Bryant with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie: “She is not doing well because she has now death threats.” pic.twitter.com/M8HrCp8vTr
— TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) February 7, 2020
Additionally, CBS released a statement defending King’s integrity. “Gayle conducted a thoughtful, wide-ranging interview with Lisa Leslie about the legacy of Kobe Bryant,” the statement reads via Page Six. “An excerpt was posted that did not reflect the nature and tone of the full interview. We are addressing the internal process that led to this and changes have already been made.”