Gayle King celebrated a milestone birthday in grand style, thanks to a heartwarming surprise party organized by her best friend of nearly 50 years, Oprah Winfrey. The event, held at the chic Ci Siamo restaurant in New York City, left King stunned as she walked into a gathering she believed was a simple holiday dinner. Instead, she was greeted with shouts of “Surprise!” from her loved ones and a room full of A-list celebrities.
According to Essence, the evening was hosted by DJ Suss One, and the ambiance was as lively as it was heartfelt. King, visibly overwhelmed, tossed her clutch on the bar, clearly moved by the effort her friends had put into the celebration.
Winfrey delivered an emotional speech, reflecting on their decades-long friendship. “Next year marks half a century that we’ve been friends,” she began. “In 50 years, we have been in sync, in each other’s corner, supportive of one another, looking forward to the best that could happen for each other.” Winfrey praised King for her unwavering joy and support, adding, “The world is a better place from the joy that Gayle brings everybody.”
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The guest list featured big names, including Katy Perry, Stephen Colbert, Angela Bassett, Jeff Bezos, Brooke Shields, and Andy Cohen. The festivities included a show-stopping four-tiered cake adorned with sparklers, adding to the magic of the night.
King, touched by the outpouring of love, took a moment to thank her friends and family. “I can’t believe that you pulled this off; I can’t believe that you guys came for me,” she said. “I am just blown away by the people who’ve taken their time just to come… I’m so grateful. Thank you so, so much. I really do feel the love.”
Oprah later shared details of the party on Instagram, admitting how hard it was to keep the secret from her “bestie.” King, whose official birthday is December 28, also expressed her surprise and gratitude in a post, writing, “Talk about a surprise!!! I thought I was going to Oprah’s holiday dinner for the @oprahdaily team… and then THIS happened.”
The night was a perfect testament to a friendship that has stood the test of time, as well as a celebration of the joy and inspiration King has brought to so many lives.
