Oprah Winfrey has shared that one of the reasons she chose not to have children was because of Barbara Walters.
In a new Hulu documentary called Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything, Oprah opened up about how seeing Walters’ difficult relationship with her daughter affected her own thoughts about becoming a mother.
Barbara Walters adopted her daughter Jacqueline in 1968 with her then-husband, Lee Guber. But things weren’t always smooth between them. At one point, Jacqueline even ran away from home and stayed away for a whole month when she was a teenager.
Oprah remembered a talk she had with Walters, who encouraged her to consider having kids. Walters said being a mom was very fulfilling. But Oprah, seeing how hard Walters had it with her own daughter, didn’t feel the same. She thought to herself, “I see what you’re going through, and I don’t think that’s for me.”
She said Barbara’s parenting journey was very complicated and emotional. That experience helped her decide that motherhood might not be the right path for her.
Barbara Walters was a trailblazer in journalism. She made history in 1974 by becoming the first woman to co-host a major U.S. news program. She interviewed many important people, including leaders and celebrities like Fidel Castro, Monica Lewinsky, and U.S. presidents.
But while she succeeded in her career, she had a hard time at home. Walters had three miscarriages before deciding to adopt. She once said that Jacqueline was a blessing and made her feel complete. Still, as Jacqueline grew up, their relationship became strained.
Walters admitted she didn’t realize how hard it was for Jacqueline to grow up with a famous mother. Jacqueline struggled with drug addiction and often felt distant from Barbara. Walters once revealed that her daughter had taken a dangerous amount of pills.
Barbara’s friend Cynthia McFadden shared that Walters later admitted she made mistakes as a parent. She knew that things between her and Jacqueline were often tense, even later in life.
In older interviews, Jacqueline talked about going out to clubs like Studio 54 and using drugs when she was younger. She said she felt lost, disconnected from her mother, and lucky to still be alive. Her struggles came from the trauma of being adopted and feeling like she didn’t belong.
Despite all this, Oprah and Barbara had a close friendship. After Walters passed away in 2022, Oprah honored her legacy, saying that Barbara opened doors for women in media. Oprah said, “Without Barbara Walters, there wouldn’t have been me.”
She added that she was thankful to know Walters and to learn from her life and career.
Oprah has always been open about her choice not to marry or have kids. She’s been in a long-term relationship with Stedman Graham since 1986. She once said she has never regretted her decision.
The Hulu documentary Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything will be released on June 23. It looks at Walters’ career and the mark she left on women in journalism.
