After much speculation, Oprah Winfrey put rumors to rest when she announced that she would step down from her groundbreaking show after its 25th season.
She made a brief video statement about her decision to end the show. In the video she made the following heartfelt farewell:
“So here we are, halfway through the season 24. And it still means as much to me to spend an hour everyday with you as it did in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last? Here is the real reason. I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it’s time to say goodbye. 25 years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit. It’s the perfect number, the exact right time.”
Oprah plans to focus her professional energy on her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) network that will launch next year.