Gayle reveals Oprah Winfrey’s reaction to viral Tony Awards car moment that fans can’t stop talking about.
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Oprah Winfrey’s Surprise That Had Everyone Talking
Imagine sitting at a fancy awards show and suddenly becoming part of a viral moment!
That’s exactly what happened to Oprah Winfrey at this year’s Tony Awards.
The legendary talk show host got a taste of her own medicine when host Cynthia Erivo pulled off an unexpected surprise that had the whole theater buzzing.
During Broadway’s big night on June 8, Cynthia walked right up to Oprah in the audience and handed her a gift bag.
“Check under your chair,” she told the media queen, who was sitting next to bestie Gayle King.
What Was Inside the Bag?
The moment was pure gold! Oprah dug into her bag and first pulled out some candy – Junior Mints and Haribo gummies.
But the real treasure was still hidden inside.
“What’s that other thing in there?” Cynthia asked with a mischievous grin.
When Oprah pulled out a tiny red toy car, the audience went wild! “You get a car!”
Cynthia announced, recreating Oprah’s iconic car moment from her talk show days.
Gayle Spills the Tea
“Oh, she loved that,” Gayle told PEOPLE at the opening of Broadway’s Call Me Izzy. “That is such an iconic thing. It’s associated with Oprah.”
The CBS journalist couldn’t help but smile when sharing how the iconic car moment landed with her friend.
And here’s a juicy tidbit – while Oprah was totally surprised, Gayle knew about the plan all along!
“I knew she was going to do that,” Gayle admitted. “I loved that moment.”
The Original Iconic Car Moment
If you somehow missed it (where have you been?!), Oprah created TV magic back in 2004 when she gave brand-new Pontiac G-6 cars to all 276 audience members during her “Wildest Dreams” season.
The iconic car moment wasn’t just about the crazy generous gift – it was Oprah’s over-the-top excitement that made it unforgettable.
When folks looked confused after opening boxes with car keys, she threw her arms wide and shouted those now-famous words: “You get a car! You get a car! EVERYBODY gets a car!”
Behind-the-Scenes Memories
Years later, Oprah confessed the iconic car moment nearly overwhelmed her.
“The buildup to that surprise was almost more than I could handle,” she once shared.
Gayle even flew in specially to witness the iconic car moment in person. For Oprah, it remains “one of the happiest days of my life.”
And that red Celine suit she wore? Total fashion win, despite Gayle’s initial disapproval.
“That was the best decision,” Oprah said. “That red suit has carried us through a couple decades now.”
Why We Still Love It
Twenty years later, this iconic car moment still makes people smile.
The phrase has become part of our everyday language, popping up in memes, GIFs, and now, award shows.
“It delights me to see other people be happy,” Oprah once reflected. “That’s one of the great joys of my life.”
No wonder the iconic car moment lives on – it captures the pure joy of giving that Oprah embodied throughout her legendary career.