Oprah Winfrey has addressed the backlash surrounding her appearance at Paris Fashion Week, where she was criticized for looking unusually thin and having difficulty walking, RadarOnline.com reports.
The 72-year-old media icon was spotted at the Chloe fashion show, cautiously walking while holding onto a staff member’s arm, with her friend Gayle King mirroring her careful steps. Winfrey offered an explanation for her slow pace.
“Online, people… you know how the internet can be,” Winfrey remarked in an Instagram video shared by Joseph Zambrano, the CBS Mornings host’s assistant who also manages the Oprah magazine Instagram account. “They were criticizing me and Gayle, saying, ‘Look at them, walking like they’re 90 years old,'” she recounted.
Winfrey detailed a specific moment while entering the Chloé show, noting, “My stylist had just given me the Chloé sunglasses before I stepped out of the car. I normally wear prescription glasses or contacts, but these weren’t prescription, so I couldn’t see where I was going!”
She emphasized, “I typically wear glasses or contacts, so without them, I couldn’t see where I was walking!”
Winfrey reiterated, “For everyone saying we looked like we were walking like we’re 90, I simply couldn’t see.”
The author of Build the Life You Want mentioned needing guidance from a security team member to navigate safely without bumping into anything.
Winfrey explained that Gayle King’s difficulty walking was due to two broken toes, not a vision issue.
She recounted King telling her, “I can’t walk,” due to her injured foot as they moved through the venue.
Winfrey concluded, “That’s why we seemed like we were moving like 90-year-olds,” as the room burst into laughter.
Some were skeptical of Winfrey’s explanation for her unusual walking style at Paris Fashion Week, noting that she also appeared hunched over at another show where she wasn’t wearing the Chloé sunglasses.
“People don’t bend over when they can’t see; they squint,” one commenter noted.
“I love them both, but Oprah has been hunched over for years,” observed another fan.
Another user criticized Winfrey’s transformation, saying, “Paris Fashion Week showed a different, superficial lady focused on the exterior. Why can’t she be her ‘old self’ inside?” referencing her significant weight loss.
However, Winfrey’s loyal supporters appreciated her explanation.
“It’s great to be able to laugh about it… but people really need to stop and find something else to do. She’s living her best life!” a supporter cheered.
Winfrey’s striking transformation for Paris Fashion Week surprised many fans, with some saying she looked “unrecognizable” due to her high-fashion style and slimmer appearance. She had previously disclosed using a GLP-1 to shed more than 50 pounds.
The Color Purple actress enjoyed her time in France immensely.
“Fashion. Friendship. Food. And the simple joy of feeling comfortable in my own skin. Thank you, Paris, for a magnificent week,” she captioned an Instagram carousel of photos and videos from her trip.
Winfrey also expressed gratitude to her stylist for “every outfit that was selected with care and love,” and acknowledged her glam team, adding about her new fashion persona, “Now I gotta put her away and get in some pajamas!”
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