Like many bloggers, I enjoy looking at my site meter to figure out how people arrive at my site. The World Wide Web is amazing at bringing people together in ways that would have seemed impossible just a decade ago, so it's only natural to be curious as to how someone in Indonesia would find my little place on the 'Net.
So I did a little investigating and the search that brings more people to me than any other is "Oprah's friend Gayle" (or even more frequently, the misspelled "Oprah's friend Gail"). I wrote a post about the whole Oprah Winfrey/Hermes "scandal" last fall -- that didn't even mention Gayle -- and somehow my blog most closely matches this search criteria.
As it would happen, I spent a weekend in the Hamptons in the same house as Miss Gayle King, so I thought it only right to add to my blog for people searching for information about "Oprah's friend Gayle/Gail."
As most people know, Gayle is Oprah's best friend from the past 20-plus years. She's the editor at large for the wildly successful O, The Oprah Magazine and as a result, sort of acts as Oprah's "eyes and ears."
That weekend last summer was a hoot, and Gayle was a big part of it. When my friend Jay and I arrived at Jay's friend's house, Gayle happened to pull up at the same time. She jumped out of her sedan and immediately smiled and introduced herself and said, "Are you going to Russell's party tonight, too?" (The Russell in question was none other than Russell Simmons. For some reason, Jay and I thought it was hilarious that she would ask us that!)
From there we all hung out, had dinner and got to know each other through the next few days. What a fantastic woman she is. She's razor sharp, funny, sweet, caring and such a great listener. The house was occupied that weekend by nearly all gay men, and she was tickled to listen to our stories about our personal lives and relationships. And she was equally willing to discuss her marriage, separation, attempts at reconciliation and ultimate divorce. She's a very proud mother of what sound like two great kids and spoke very lovingly about them.
One other thing: being as close to Oprah as she is puts her in a decidedly precarious position. When word got out that she was staying at our house, it didn't take long for the friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend who had just written a self-help book to suddenly start "popping by" every five minutes to try to make his move. Gayle -- ever the pro that she clearly is -- handled it with enormous grace and charm, always being open and friendly yet letting every not-at-all-subtle PR attempt slide right off her. (This one guy literally camped out in our host's back yard to try to be there in the a.m. for a book pitch over orange juice -- and what with the power of Oprah's Book Club, who could really blame a guy for trying?)
So for those searching for a little more information on Gayle King, this is my little story. (And no, by every indication I saw, she is not Oprah's secret lover.)
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Oprah's Friend Gayle
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
So jealous!
-Eddie
Thanks for your post on Gayle. She radiates niceness...simply a matter of a good upbringing that "took." Not all do of course.
But you got me to wondering.
If you and Gayle made fast friends, I wonder if you would ask Gayle if the one topic you'll never see on Oprah; Parental Alienation, is because Oprah is alienated from her own Mother?
That seems to make sense.
I ask because as the operator of www.FamilyLawCourts.com I've heard from so many women who claim they'be begged for a show on this but, nada. Bumpkiss. Goose egg.
One would think a show about something never before covered in-depth would be (in addition to a ratings spike) snatched up in a Second.
But one would be wrong.
By day I do pr work for attorneys and I've talked to Oprah's people about other guests they were interested; but parental alientation? Nope. No interest.
Yet www.FamilyLawCourts.com recives lots of heart breaking ;etters from women who report abuse only to lose custody to the abuser, who then in turn uses greater custodial time to isolate the child from their mother, and then begins the brainwashing process against Mom, until the kid no longer wants to even see the very parent trying to protect them.
(Two documentaries later; mainstream media Still hasn't picked up on this litagation gold mine.)
Hollywood wise; Kate Hudson being is the poster child for a brainwashed child unaware it happened. Kate is on record as her father never being there. Bill Hudson is on record of visitation interference.
Judges? They don't care either way because the process is something to litigate about...i.e. more experts and legal fees; but generally the behavior isn't examined. Just think of the Stockholm Syndrome, except covertly and you've got it.
(Media bias is Family Court is a, "he said - she said" because if reporters took the time to sit in on a morning calendar, they'd learned it's All business - usually to the benefit of those employed in the divorce industry.)
The site also shows outs fake lawyers and therapists, but here comes another surprise: judges don't care.
I would think show wise, parental alienation, fake lawyers, fake therapists, would be a barn burner.
I would be wrong. Yet I get letters from as far away as New Zealand on this issue.
However, and returning to the question: Oprah rarely speaks much about her own mother, (while dutifully making her life comfortable), yet she speaks often and lovingly, about her father.
How funny that Elizabeth Smart iss THE poster child for how quickly it happens.
Kidnapped from the bedroom of her loving family at knifepoint; five months later while camping in the desert and left alone for two days, Elizabeth never tried to escape.
Anyway, thanks again for your post on Gayle; and if you became lifelong friends over the weekend, please ask and let me know at info@FamilyLawCourts.com
Thanks.
Well, since you've got the hook-up, can you hook me up to Gayle? Oprah is untouchable but people say if you get Gayle's attention, Oprah will hear it.
http://www.enjoyyourmenopause.com
Post a Comment