Oprah Winfrey reveals how Barbara Walters played a role in her decision to never have kids
Share this @internewscast.com

Oprah Winfrey openly shared how observing Barbara Walters’ interaction with her daughter, Jacqueline Dena Guber, influenced her decision not to have children.

“I remember Barbara saying to me, ‘There’s nothing more rewarding than having children,’ and advised me to seriously consider it,” the media icon recalled in the new documentary “Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything,” which debuted Thursday night at the Tribeca Festival.

“But I thought, ‘OK, yet I’m watching you, so, no,'” she continued, describing the relationship Walters had with her adopted daughter as “charged” and “complex.”

She added, “And I can see why. It’s one of the reasons why I never had children.”

In the spotlight documentary, Walters’ fraught relationship with Jacqueline — whom she adopted with ex-husband Lee Guber in 1968 — is explored through the late journalist’s lens in her own words and through archival footage.

The media pioneer’s ambition and dedication to her career became a hardship for Jacqueline throughout her childhood, which left Walters feeling “guilty.”

“I didn’t realize how tough it was, because she had a mother who was a celebrity,” Walters explained, via a voiceover, in the doc. “We struggled through schools. And then finally, at one point, when she was 16, I guess, she ran away.”

Walters’ former ABC colleague and friend Cynthia McFadden clarified that “Jackie had a father” and a governess, “so it wasn’t that Jackie was left alone on a playpen” while Walters focused on building her career.

Still, “Barbara articulated many times that she’d made mistakes as a mother.”

Walters, who died at age 93 in 2022, and her daughter attempted to work on their relationship once Jacqueline reached adulthood. However, their connection remained fragile for years.

“As she got older, I think Barbara felt that the relationship was shaky. She didn’t tell me enough of the facts to make me understand why she felt that way, but it seemed to me that she felt that she and Jackie had fallen out again,” McFadden shared.

Winfrey, meanwhile, has remained steadfast in her decision to not have children. In 2017, the former talk show host said she doesn’t regret her choice to stay childless, telling Good Housekeeping UK that she felt that her motherhood transcended the traditional biological definition of the term.

“When people were pressuring me to get married and have children, I knew I was not going to be a person that ever regretted not having them because I feel like I am a mother to the world’s children,” Winfrey, 71, explained.

“Love knows no boundaries. It doesn’t matter if a child came from your womb or if you found that person at age 1, 10 or 20. If the love is real, the caring is pure and it comes from a good space, it works.”

“Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything” will be available for streaming on Hulu starting June 23.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Zo no, NYPD! Experienced cops see little incentive to stay at NYPD

Veteran Officers Find Limited Motivation to Remain with NYPD

Over half of the officers in the NYPD’s Joint Terrorism Task Force…
US and Iran trade threats of expanding war after strikes near Israeli areas tied to nuclear sites

Tensions Rise as US and Iran Exchange Threats Following Strikes Near Israeli Nuclear-Linked Zones

ARAD, Israel — The conflict in the Middle East intensified on Sunday…
JSO: Man arrested for killing father in Eastside neighborhood

Shocking Crime on Eastside: Son Arrested for Father’s Murder

A tragic incident unfolded as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office revealed that a…
Ongoing extreme flooding devastates Hawaii as power restoration continues, evacuation orders lift

Hawaii Battles Back: Power Restored and Evacuations Lifted Amid Devastating Floods

The Hawaiian islands are grappling with relentless rainfall this weekend, triggering hazardous…
Analysts say Gaza 'civilian' deaths include Hamas, other terror members working as medics, media workers

Analysts Report Inclusion of Hamas and Other Militant Members Among Civilian Casualties in Gaza, Posing as Medics and Media Personnel

New insights are challenging the long-held narrative surrounding the casualties in Gaza,…
'Cold front coming on through'

Chilly Weather Alert: Cold Front Set to Sweep In

Mother Nature seems to have more in store for New York, as…
Jimmy Gracey's death deemed accidental after vanishing on spring break in Barcelona, police say

Authorities Reveal New Details on Tragic Death of Missing College Student Jimmy Gracey

An initial autopsy suggests that the tragic death of a 20-year-old University…
LA family who lost everything to homeless fire slam Karen Bass

LA Family Devastated by Fire Blames Local Leadership for Tragedy

A family in Los Angeles is grappling with the loss of their…
Obama slammed for praising late 'Russiagate' prober Robert Mueller's 'commitment to rule of law'

Obama Faces Criticism for Commending Robert Mueller’s Dedication to Justice

Former President Barack Obama recently ignited a flurry of reactions on social…
White House installs Christopher Columbus statue made from remains of toppled sculpture

White House Revives History: New Christopher Columbus Statue Crafted from Remnants of Toppled Sculpture

A newly erected statue of Christopher Columbus has been unveiled on the…
Downtown Los Angeles stabbing as five injured

Five People Injured in Downtown Los Angeles Stabbing Incident

Numerous individuals sustained injuries in a mass stabbing incident that occurred in…
Dad loses custody of autistic son after fighting sex change, gets support from Elon Musk

Father Loses Custody Battle Over Autistic Son’s Gender Transition, Gains Unexpected Support from Elon Musk

A heartbroken father in Iceland claims he lost his parental rights after…