At a Glance
- Oprah Winfrey praised the term “partner” as a mature relationship label during a Jan. 13 talk-show segment.
- She contrasted it with “girlfriend” or “boyfriend,” saying those words feel juvenile after decades together.
- The discussion was sparked by Timothée Chalamet calling Kylie Jenner his “partner” at two recent awards shows.
- Why it matters: The segment spotlights how language evolves to reflect long-term commitment and stability.
Oprah Winfrey has entered the national conversation about modern relationship labels, declaring her preference for the word “partner” over “girlfriend” or “boyfriend.” The media icon weighed in during a Jan. 13 appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, telling viewers the term signals maturity and shared responsibility.
Her comments follow a GQ article on men adopting “partner” for their romantic companions, a trend amplified when actor Timothée Chalamet twice referred to Kylie Jenner as his “partner” while accepting awards this month.
Oprah’s Case for ‘Partner’
“You know why I like the word ‘partner’? Because it’s mature. It says that it’s a mature, it’s a stable relationship,” Oprah told the hosts. “It’s not just like ‘my girlfriend.’ ‘Cause you have a girlfriend when you’re 7, when you’re 10, when you’re 15. So ‘partner’ adds a level of maturity and responsibility.”
Co-host Sheinelle Jones agreed, saying the term implies, “I’m riding with you. We’re in this.”
Oprah replied, “That means, yes, we’re in it together. There’s a partnership. … So I thought that was really good.”
A Label She’s Used for Decades
Oprah has called longtime companion Stedman Graham her “partner” for years, placing her ahead of the curve on the linguistic shift.
“Before it was a thing, you were calling each other ‘partner,'” Sheinelle noted.
“Yes, we’ve always used the word ‘partner,'” Oprah confirmed.
Jenna Bush Hager added with a laugh, “Of course she started it. She started everything. Oprah started the word ‘partner.’ How dare we!”
Oprah explained that after two decades together, older labels no longer fit.
“After 20 years, you can’t say, ‘He’s my boyfriend.’ … And, also, once you get to a certain age, ‘He’s my boyfriend’ – No! ‘Partner’ is a much better word,” she said.
The Chalamet Connection
The talk-show segment was prompted by Chalamet’s recent awards-show language. The actor used “partner” when accepting a Critics Choice Award and repeated it during the Golden Globes, prompting media outlets and fans to analyze the term’s rising popularity.
Key Takeaways
- Oprah views “partner” as a marker of adult commitment.
- She has used the term with Stedman Graham since early in their relationship.
- The discussion reflects broader cultural shifts toward inclusive, egalitarian relationship language.
This story first appeared on News Of Fort Worth.
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