I’m not even kind of lesbian, says tearful Oprah Winfrey

MELBOURNE - In an emotional interview with Barbara Walters, talk show queen Oprah Winfrey dismissed rumours that she’s gay.

“I am not even kind of lesbian” the Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying in response to a question about her close relationship with best friend Gayle King.

In an excerpt released Wednesday, the unmarried Winfrey declared herself frustrated that gay rumours continue to follow the pair.

“I have said we are not gay enough times. I am not lesbian, I’m not even kind of lesbian,” she said.

“The reason why it irritates me is somebody must think I’m lying. Why would you want to hide it? That’s not the way I run my life,” the billionaire said.

Earlier in the interview, Winfrey struggled to put into words how much King means to her life.

“She is the mother I never had; she is the sister everybody would want; she is the friend that everybody deserves. I don’t know a better person,” Winfrey said through tears.

When asked why the larger-than-life host could not maintain her composure, Winfrey called for tissues to staunch the tears.

“I wasn’t going to cry here. It’s making me cry because I’m thinking about how much I probably have never told her that,” she said.

The complete special airs in the US this week while Oprah is in Down Under for her “Ultimate Australian Adventure.” (ANI)