Oprah Winfrey applauds Gayle King’s trip to space. ‘Bigger than just going to space’
On Monday morning, CBS Mornings host Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sánchez, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and film producer Kerianne Flynn traveled to space.
The April 14 flight was a success and lasted a total of 11-minutes from take off to landing.
And while the all-female crew aboard the Blue Origin’s Spaceflight has been dubbed historic, King’s longtime best friend, Oprah Winfrey, got emotional during take off.
According to Winfrey, she’s “never been more proud of my friend,” she explained on the Blue Origin livestream.
“This is bigger than just going to space,” Winfrey continued. “For (King), anytime we’re on a flight she’s in somebody’s lap if there’s the slightest bit of turbulence.”
Winfrey continued saying that, “This is overcoming a wall of fear, a barrier. I think it’s going to be cathartic in so many ways.”
The 71-year-old added why she encouraged King, 70, to go on the trip to space, noting that she believed King would regret not going.
“I think life is about continuing to grow into the best of yourself and the fullest expression of yourself,” she continued, according to E! News. “I think this is one of the most fullest expressions you can possibly have.”
“I felt deeply that she would regret it,” Oprah noted. “And I didn’t want to hear about it for the next 15 years, ‘I wish I had gone.’ I said, there’s only one time that all the women are going up for the first time. There will be other trips, but there’s only one first time.”
In a later interview with King, following the historic trip to space, she told NBC News that she can’t believe what she saw while in flight, admitting there are things she’s no longer afraid to do now.
“The flight instructor said that I am her best success story. Why? Because she’s never had somebody go through the course who is terrified of flying.”
Noting how proud she is of herself for overcoming that fear, King also noted that she’s no longer afraid to pierce her ears.
“I am glad I did it. I am very glad. I have no regrets about doing it,” King said of the flight.
“I can take on anything,” King told NBC News.