By
- Kelly Corbett | kcorbett@syracuse.com
Oprah Winfrey and her longtime partner Stedman Graham recently made a rare public appearance together
According to E! News, the longtime couple attended an event in Chicago that celebrated 40 years since “The Oprah Winfrey Show” premiered. It was Winfrey’s first public outing with Graham in nearly seven years
The talk show legend dressed casually in a pinstriped matching set and sneakers for the occasion. Meanwhile, Graham wore a black suit with a white button-down shirt
The couple’s relationship began in 1986 at a charity event, the same year Winfrey’s talk show launched. Though Graham proposed in 1993, the pair never married. Winfrey has been open about that decision, explaining in 2020 that she wanted to prioritize her career
“I realized I didn’t actually want a marriage,” Winfrey wrote for Oprah Daily. “I wanted to be asked. I wanted to know he felt I was worthy of being his missus, but I didn’t want the sacrifices, the compromises, the day-in-day-out commitment required to make a marriage work.”
Graham has also spoken publicly about his commitment to their relationship. “The thing about our relationship is I want the best for her,” he said in a 2019 interview on “Ellen.” Graham added, “So, you know, I’m dedicated to her happiness.”
The last time the couple appeared together in public was in 2019 at the grand opening gala for Tyler Perry Studios
