Gayle King Shares Oprah Winfrey’s Delight Over Iconic 2025 Tony Awards Moment
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Renowned television personality Gayle King recently disclosed Oprah Winfrey’s enthusiastic response to the iconic “You get a car” segment at the 2025 Tony Awards, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. The highly memorable moment took place at the opening night of Broadway’s Call Me Izzy on June 12. During the prestigious Tonys event held on June 8, host Cynthia Erivo pleasantly surprised Winfrey with a gift bag located under her seat, containing a miniature red toy car.
The playful gesture was a charming homage to a significant 2004 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, where each of the 276 audience members received a car as part of the show’s “Wildest Dreams Come True” season. King, a close friend of Winfrey, revealed that the media mogul thoroughly enjoyed the light-hearted Tonys surprise. The event unfolded as Erivo approached Winfrey during the ceremony, presenting her with the unexpected gift.
As Winfrey and King sat in the audience, Erivo initiated the surprise by urging Winfrey to check under her chair for the gift bag. Winfrey excitedly retrieved Junior Mints and Haribo Goldbears from the bag before discovering the highlight of the gift – the small red toy car. Erivo joyfully exclaimed, “You get a car!” eliciting laughter from Winfrey and thunderous applause from the audience. The endearing moment was captured and shared by The Hollywood Reporter.
Reflecting on Winfrey’s unforgettable 2004 car giveaway episode, King expressed her admiration for the enduring impact it had on pop culture. Despite the surprise being a secret to Winfrey, King was thrilled to witness the heartwarming tribute. King shared her insight with PEOPLE at the Broadway show, highlighting the significance of the iconic moment in Winfrey’s career.
Winfrey’s talk show was renowned for its extraordinary giveaways, with the 2004 car giveaway episode standing out as a landmark event in television history. The iconic scene, where Winfrey enthusiastically announced “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!” to her stunned audience, remains etched in the collective memory of fans and viewers.
The widespread popularity of the moment led to the creation of numerous memes and GIFs that continue to resonate with audiences even decades later. In a 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Winfrey reminisced about King’s disapproval of the outfit she wore during the episode, emphasizing the enduring significance of the red Celine suit she chose.
Winfrey’s ability to bring joy to others through her generosity was reaffirmed during the 2025 Tony Awards moment, where she shared a heartwarming connection with Erivo and the audience. The exchange between Winfrey, Erivo, and King underscored the enduring friendship and mutual admiration shared between the influential figures in the entertainment industry.
As Winfrey continues to inspire and uplift audiences with her philanthropic endeavors and memorable television moments, the affectionate tribute at the 2025 Tony Awards serves as a delightful reminder of her impactful contributions to entertainment and the perpetual joy she brings to her fans worldwide.