Oprah Winfrey Hospitalized For Severe Stomach Issues After Revelation She’s Using ‘Weight Loss Medication’

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has been admitted to a hospital due to “very serious” stomach problems, according to her close friend, Gayle King, on CBS Mornings.

Winfrey had been suffering from a severe stomach issue, which she described as a “stomach flu” where “stuff was coming out of both ends,” King said. The situation was so dire that Winfrey had to be hospitalized for dehydration and receive intravenous (IV) treatment.

“Needless to say, she ended up in the hospital, dehydration, she had an IV. So it was a very serious thing,” King shared with the viewers, though she refrained from going into further details. “I won’t get too graphic,” she added.

Despite the seriousness of Winfrey’s medical emergency, King reassured the audience that the 70-year-old media titan “will be ok” and expressed hope that Winfrey would not be upset with her for sharing this personal information.

The hospitalization came at an inopportune time, as Winfrey was scheduled to appear on the CBS Mornings show to introduce her latest book club selection, Familiaris by novelist David Wroblewski. Instead, the author was interviewed by the show’s hosts in Winfrey’s absence.

Shortly after King’s revelation, the Oprah Daily Instagram account released an official statement to confirm Winfrey’s condition and ongoing recovery.

“Ms. Winfrey is recovering following a stomach virus and received an IV due to dehydration at the recommendation of her doctor. She is resting and feeling better every day,” the statement read, signed by a spokesperson for the media mogul.

This hospitalization comes on the heels of Winfrey’s recent completion of the press tour for the remake of The Color Purple, which she co-produced. The film was nominated for an Oscar and won multiple NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture and several acting honors.

In a previous interview with People magazine, Winfrey had mentioned using an unnamed weight loss medication as a “maintenance tool.” Some of the side effects associated with such medications include stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, which may be related to her current medical situation.