Oprah Winfrey looked thinner than ever backstage at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, which were held at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday.

The 71-year-old OWN CEO – who once topped the scales at 237lbs in 1992 – finally reached her 160lb goal weight in 2023 after undergoing double-knee replacement surgery in 2021.

After vehemently denying she had ever taken weight loss drugs, she finally admitted to taking them in a shock interview in 2023.

Celebrities who’ve admitted to taking the trendy injectables include Kathy Bates, Kelly Clarkson, Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan Trainor, Elon Musk, Rebel Wilson, Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Lauren Manzo, Dolores Catania, and Golnesa ‘GG’ Gharachedaghi.

Oprah flaunted her slimmed-down 5ft6in figure in a black off-the-shoulder gown featuring white illusion stitching at the sides in order to further whittle her waist.

The Tony-winning producer was joined by her best friend of 49 years, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King.


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Oprah Winfrey looked thinner than ever backstage at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, which were held at Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday

The Mississippi-born billionaire has been in a relationship with motivational speaker Stedman Graham since 1986.

Meanwhile, Gayle has two children from her 11-year marriage to Concrete Rose Capital partner Bill Bumpus, which ended in 1993.

Winfrey and King proudly posed with Good Night and Good Luck thespian George Clooney, who squatted down in his tuxedo in order to discuss something at Oprah’s feet.

The Kamala Harris campaigners also took a picture with Our Town thespian Katie Holmes.

Oprah served presenting duties and took part in a skit with Tony Awards host Cynthia Erivo where she asked the Wicked star to hold her finger.

Winfrey and the British 38-year-old famously won Tony Awards in 2016 for producing and starring in director John Doyle’s Broadway revival of The Color Purple, which ran from 2015-2017 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

The Six Triple Eight actress went on to executive produce Blitz Bazawule’s 2023 big-screen adaptation of the same musical starring Fantasia Barrino as Celie Harris-Johnson (instead of Cynthia).

Oprah Winfrey & Cynthia Erivo recreate Wicked at 2025 Tony Awards

MUSICAL CATEGORIES


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A sobbing Nicole Scherzinger won the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance in Sunset Boulevard

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger — Sunset Blvd.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Darren Criss — Maybe Happy Ending

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon — Buena Vista Social Club

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Jak Malone — Operation Mincemeat

Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending

Best Revival of a Musical: Sunset Blvd.

Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Arden — Maybe Happy Ending

PLAY CATEGORIES


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Cole Escola won for Oh, Mary!, triumphing over George Clooney

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Sarah Snook — The Picture Of Dorian Gray

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Cole Escola — Oh, Mary!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Kara Young — Purpose

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Francis Jue — Yellow Face

Best Play: Purpose — Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Best Revival of a Play: Eureka Day — Author: Jonathan Spector

Best Direction of a Play: Sam Pinkleton — Oh, Mary!


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The 71-year-old OWN CEO – who once topped the scales at 237lbs in 1992 – finally reached her 160lb goal weight in 2023 with help from a weight loss drug


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Oprah – who relies on stylist Annabelle Harron – flaunted her slimmed-down 5ft6in figure in a black off-the-shoulder gown featuring white illusion stitching at the sides in order to further whittle her waist


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Hairstylist Nicole Mangrum coiffed Winfrey’s wavy partial updo and make-up artist Derrick Rutledge fully contoured her complexion for the CBS-broadcast theatrical awards ceremony


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The Tony-winning producer was joined by her best friend of 49 years, CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King (L)


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Oprah and the 70-year-old self-described ‘astronaut’ famously spent the night together the first time they met in 1976 due to a Baltimore snowstorm, but they are not lesbian lovers (pictured with producer Jordan Roth)


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Ominously, Winfrey hasn’t been pictured with her alleged partner since 1986 – motivational speaker Stedman Graham (M) – since a group shot of friends celebrating the New Year in January 2024


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The Six Triple Eight actress and King proudly posed with Good Night and Good Luck thespian George Clooney (R), who squatted down in his tuxedo in order to discuss something at Oprah’s feet


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The Kamala Harris campaigners also took a picture with Our Town thespian Katie Holmes (L)


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Winfrey served presenting duties and took part in a skit with Tony Awards host Cynthia Erivo (R) where she asked the Wicked star to hold her finger


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The self-made mogul and the British 38-year-old famously won Tony Awards in 2016 for producing and starring in director John Doyle’s Broadway revival of The Color Purple, which ran from 2015-2017 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre


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Oprah went on to executive produce Blitz Bazawule’s 2023 big-screen adaptation of the same musical starring Fantasia Barrino as Celie Harris-Johnson (instead of Cynthia)


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In December 2023, the host, who had been dogged by rumors she was using medical weight loss aids for years, finally came clean as she was ‘done with the shaming’ after losing more than 40lbs  (seen left in 2023 and right in 2019)

The 2025 Tony Awards: See who won Broadway’s biggest night

In December 2023, the host, who had been dogged by rumors she was using medical weight loss aids for years, finally came clean as she was ‘done with the shaming’ after losing more than 40lbs.

The admission comes after Winfrey said she would not take Ozempic and similar drugs in the class of weight-loss medications because she viewed them as an ‘easy way out’ during a discussion with WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani.

She told People : ‘I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing’ – but did not name the drug that she uses.

‘The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.

‘I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself’ and added she had actively recommended the weight loss aid to other people before deciding to take it herself.

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