In a recent interview, Oprah talked about marriage and her relationship with Stedman Graham. According to Winfrey, not getting married has helped their relationship.
Oprah Winfrey is still a happily single woman despite dating her partner Stedman Graham for 26 years.
Addressing a jam-packed crowd at the Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur, India, where she is filming the show “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” the former talk show queen said she’d be divorced by now had she tied the knot. “I am not the marrying kind,” she said, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“I know that in a country like India where women have arranged marriages that turn into love, it may seem like a mystery as to why. But if we [referring to Graham] were married, by now we would be divorced.”
Oprah’s comments come as no surprise to those who’ve been following her love life and career over the years. She once said of Graham, “Here is someone who is willing to stand in and stand up for you. And that is love.”
Oprah’s comments really intrigued me. As a single, but attached, woman who may want to get married one day, I have ponder whether or not I am the “marrying type.” To me, the “marrying type” isn’t as simple as being able to cook or be domestic. Marriage is an act of selflessness. A promise to dedicate yourself to creating a new life with another person. I consider it a big responsibility. So I can see why Oprah would feel the way she does, especially as a celebrity. However, as someone without Oprah’s fame, money or problems that come with fame and money, I actually like the idea of marriage and I couldn’t see myself spending almost 30 years with someone without it.
What do you think? What makes a person the “marrying type”?
I applaud her knowing that about herself. Everyone is not meant to get married although a lot of people force the issue. They feel like social outcast if they don’t at least try to find someone to get married to. Only you know you the best. Now if Oprah were poor she may reconsider her position but she clearly chose fame and fortune over everything else. There is nothing wrong with that. I think more women have a problem with that mind set than men. I am a happily married man and if she can find the same happiness without getting married then so be it. To each is own.
“Now if Oprah were poor she may reconsider her position but she clearly chose fame and fortune over everything else.”
I disagree with that. There are poor and middle-class (and every class) people who choose not to marry as well. I think in Oprah’s case, given the emotional trauma she’s healed from, she knows herself well enough to know that marriage, at least in traditional way we think of it, isn’t for her.
Furthermore, she is certainly using her fame and fortune to make a big impact on the planet. She didn’t chase fame and fortune just for the sake of being rich and famous.
she’s too rich to get married. it’s too risky when you’re a billionaire. if stedman divorced her, the oprah empire would fall (and a lot of people would lose their jobs)
Being a billionaire has nothing to do with it. You can get a pre-nup.
prenups can be over turned
I have to agree with Oprah, for I don’t feel like I am the marrying type either. I was married in my early 20’s, had a child & divorced w/in 2 years. I have been in this present relationship for 20+ years & have no desire to marry. This man, however, is tired of being called my ‘boyfriend’, & has always proposed marriage, but I’m not feeling it. I don’t know if it came from being an independent single mother or it’s that I don’t feel it in my heart, or maybe marriage to this particular man isn’t right. I love all things marriage for couples who truly want that, but I am comfortable how I am. Empty, but comfortable. Hmm….. wonder would this make sense to Oprah? 🙂
Oprah will and always be a trailblazer as an inspiration to millions of people around the world, but she’s the biggest poster child for shacking up. There will always be certain rights and privileges that are exclusive to married couples under God’s authority. Whoever says that getting married isn’t necessary for their relationship is watering down and cheapening the whole institute of marriage. It’s fine if you’re happily single and don’t desire to get married. Or if you’re single but not ready to handle marriage that’s fine, but abstain from sex and shacking up with your mate. People’s standards on marriage and relationships are less conventional than it used to be, but God’s standards never change.
Thank You James, I couldn’t have said it any better than that!
Why concern yourself with another persons choices for their life? If they want to shack up and have sex outside of marriage, that really is their business and theirs alone. As long as you are following your code and your set of moral convictions, then that really is all that matters. I say it’s better to shack up and be able to get out of it, then to try to fit into a mold of standards that somebody else created and end up marrying the wrong person….I know this is not the PC thing to say, so I don’t expect anyone to (openly) agree with me, but seriously people constantly pushing their agendas, their POV’s onto other people is a big part of the reason that so many people rush into marriage who really aren’t suited for it. I am a wife and I am so not suited for the role, if you don’t beleive me then ask my husband! I was one of those folks who felt pressure from my overly religious parents, who in hindsight, were more concerned with their images and how I looked shacked up with kids, then my own happiness and the health (or lack there of) of my relationship.
OMG! You took the words right out of my mouth. Oprah sounds like she just doesn’t want to fail at something or is too afraid to try it because of the Hollywood curse. Stedman is a good man for just putting up with such a mindset. Oprah makes it clear that it is more her and less him making this decision. Oprah need to go in with the mindset that she will not give up or quit just like she did with her career. Too many people walking in marriages with divorce on their minds and that being said they never expected to win.
I will have to politely disagree with you on a couple of topics Mr. James.
1) Who says they are having sex?
2) No one should be basing their life decisions on what a celebrity does.
3) Abstaining from sex before marriage worked when people were getting married in their teens. That was also because the life expectancy average was a lot lower. With advancements in medicine people are living longer than ever and getting married a lot later. I am not saying it is impossible but it is really close to have to wait that long after puberty to have sex. Biologically it just seems unnatural.
Shush about your religious ideals.
I agree with James 100% !!!
James get a life and get off of your holy high horse!
Remember, Oprah wasn’t a billionaire 26 years ago. Nor was she a much of a celebrity. I don’t know her, so I can’t diagnose why she believe’s that she’s not “the marrying type” but I think that the writer of this article, made a valid point. It takes a lot of unselfishness to succeed at marriage. It also takes dedication and commitment to be faithful. I wonder whether she would also say that she wasn’t the “monogamous, faithful, or committed type”? Or is she saying, “I’m the perpetually celibate type”? I’d like to know what she bases that self assessment on.
We all know the bitterness in truth. I am not yet a celebrity like Oprah… But I strongly believe the fact and truth of it not being composrey to import innocent children into this selfish and unexplainable evil and confused world we are in. For crying out loud… This is personal… We never sit contemplatively on the destiny of multitude that leaves out…. Is this not a mourning than MARAIGE state ?
I think if the two of them are happy with the relationship, that’s all that matters. Marriage isn’t for everyone, what ever the reason is~
To be honest, she has been true to herself in other words she feel and she is sure marriage is not an institution she fits in.
For those of us who are married know what she will be missing as long as she is not married and she may never understand what it feel like for she might never get into marriage.
Marriage is such a nice institution where plurality is merged into singleness that is unique, the one only best know to participants.
The very fact that she is a high powered celebrity makes it almost impossible to be married in the spiritual and traditional way. To be a high powered celebrity in this culture, is to be reduced to a product, commodity, brand etc..constantly making decisions based on how you will affect the brand and its share holders. By virtue of all of that, She’s right..she’s not the marrying type..who wants to marry a product!
Oprah is blinded by her so called carreer,and is decieved by her own ignorance on marriege or haveing someone that cares for her and not feeling alone,
shes a nice lady but kinda bullheaded,
I hope shes not blinded by ignorance that she thinks her friend’s or her career will keep her up,
totallly wrong I dont know why some career woman are decieved by this or think thier strong or dont need anyone,