When it comes to Oprah Winfrey’s health, the OWN network creator doesn’t play any games. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many people were scared to leave their homes in fear that they may catch the contagious virus, but as time went on, more people started to leave their homes and commune with others. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as political officials recommended wearing masks and/or taking the vaccine as a safety measure.
However, there were others like Oprah who found that the best safety practice was to not leave their homes, no matter how long it takes. The multi-media mogul made the revelation to TheLos Angeles Times. "I didn't leave home for 322 days — literally did not leave the house," she said. While her friends such as Gayle King teased her about it, she surprisingly got adjusted to not being around other people.
"I remember one point [Gayle King] said, 'Don't you just miss being around other people?' I go, 'Eh, not really.' And I think it's because every day, I was in an audience of 350 people twice a day, so I've had shaking hands and autographs and selfies, and lots of attention, and exposure to being around a lot of people," she said.
“Overall, I was able to adjust because I have the ability [and] really strong sense of being in this present moment and living this moment without having to worry about the next. You can do that when you don’t have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from. I didn’t have to worry about, 'Am I going to have rent? Am I going to be able to get food? Am I going to be able to keep the lights on and am I going to be able to take care of my children?'”
She added, “And I make no apologies for it. Because I worked to earn it. Nobody gave it to me, I didn’t have a father that took over the business or a husband who left me money, or uncles who helped me. I feel completely responsible for having created the life that I have and also equally grateful and blessed for it. But I understand that it is a very blessed and privileged life that gives you access to healthcare, access to whatever you need, in a way that many people do not.”
Currently, the TV icon is promoting her new project called The Color of Care, which is a documentary that is focused on families of color’s experiences dealing with racial disparities in the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film will feature interviews with family members who lost loved ones during the pandemic due to a lack of access to health care.
Oprah is the executive producer of the film and it premieres Sunday on The Smithsonian Channel.
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