Oprah Winfrey’s father Vernon has died

The legendary talk show host took to social media on Saturday (09.07.22) to reveal that her father Vernon passed away on Friday (08.07.22) aged 88 following a battle with cancer.

Oprah captioned an Instagram post: “Vernon Winfrey 1933-2022.

“Less than a week ago we honoured my father in his own backyard. My friend and gospel singer Wintley Phipps saluted him with song. He FELT the love and revelled in it until he could no longer speak (sic).”

The 68-year-old star added: “Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside I had the sacred honour of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath. We could feel Peace enter the room at his passing.

“That Peace still abides. All is well. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.”

Earlier this week, Oprah had celebrated Independence Day (04.07.22) by throwing a party in appreciation for her father.

She said: “My father is ill and so we wanted to be able to have all of his friends come and celebrate him while he’s able to receive the joy.”

Oprah’s parents never married and the star explained last year how she was grateful that Vernon took responsibility to care for her.

She said: “I had a father who took responsibility for me, even though he knew I could have been somebody else’s child.

“My mother and father never married. They had sex one time. He gets a letter after I’m born saying, ‘Send money. You have a daughter.’ And the reason he did, he said, is because it could have been him. And the responsibility that he took for me, not just a responsibility but care and love and direction and support as a young teenage girl, is the thing that made the difference in me being who I am now or somebody you would have never, ever heard of.”