Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has revealed that late journalist Barbara Walters played a surprising role in her decision to remain child-free.
In the upcoming Hulu documentary Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything, Oprah, 71, reflected on a candid conversation she once had with Walters, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 93.
“I remember her telling me once that there’s nothing more fulfilling than having children, and ‘You should really think about it,’” Winfrey shared. “And I was like, ‘Okay, but I’m looking at you, so, no.’”
Oprah described Walters’ relationship with her adopted daughter Jacqueline as “complex” and “charged,” noting that their turbulent bond contributed to her decision to prioritize career over motherhood.
“I knew I could not do both well. Both are sacrifices,” Oprah admitted. “Sacrifice to do the work and it’s also a sacrifice to be the mother and say, ‘No, let somebody else have that.’”
Winfrey praised Walters for her relentless drive, recalling how the broadcasting legend never turned down a major story during her groundbreaking journalism career, which spanned interviews with world leaders, U.S. presidents, and global icons.
