Oprah Winfrey Explains 'Walking Like 90-Year-Old' at Paris Fashion Week

The media mogul says non-prescription sunglasses and Gayle King's broken toes were to blame for their unsteady strides.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:34am

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Oprah Winfrey is addressing criticism over her and Gayle King's apparent difficulty walking at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month. Winfrey explained that she was wearing non-prescription Chloe sunglasses that prevented her from seeing clearly, while King was dealing with two broken toes, leading to their unsteady gaits that some viewers mocked online as looking like they were "90 years old." Winfrey laughed off the internet trolls, saying she simply couldn't see where she was walking due to the ill-fitting sunglasses.

Why it matters

Winfrey's appearance and health have long been a topic of public fascination, with the media mogul being open about her lifelong struggles with weight. Her recent weight loss journey, including the use of GLP-1 medication, has drawn significant attention. This incident highlights how even small, seemingly innocuous moments can become fodder for online criticism and trolling of public figures.

The details

Winfrey said that as she and Gayle King were arriving at the Chloe fashion show in Paris, Winfrey had just been handed a pair of Chloe sunglasses by her assistant. However, the sunglasses were not prescription, so Winfrey could not see clearly where she was walking. Meanwhile, King was dealing with two broken toes, which also contributed to their unsteady gaits. Winfrey said she had to rely on security to guide her, telling them "I can't see. I can't see. Tell me, tell me where I'm walking. I can't see."

  • Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King attended the Chloe fashion show in Paris earlier this month.

The players

Oprah Winfrey

A media mogul, talk show host, and actress who has been open about her lifelong struggles with weight.

Gayle King

A close friend of Oprah Winfrey's and a co-anchor of CBS Mornings.

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What they’re saying

“On the internet, somebody was, you know how people drag you on the internet. So they were dragging me and Gayle [King] saying, 'Look at them walking like they're 90 years old,'”

— Oprah Winfrey (Instagram)

“I didn't know where I was walking, I could not see. So everybody who's saying 'you're walking like you're 90,' I could not see! I told security, 'I can't see. I can't see. Tell me, tell me where I'm walking. I can't see.'”

— Oprah Winfrey (Instagram)

“Gayle's like, 'I got two broken toes. I can't walk,'”

— Oprah Winfrey (Instagram)

The takeaway

This incident highlights how even small, seemingly innocuous moments can become fodder for online criticism and trolling of public figures like Oprah Winfrey. It also underscores the importance of understanding the full context behind someone's actions before rushing to judgment, as well as the need for greater empathy and compassion in how we treat and discuss the lives of celebrities.