John Tesh recalls bigotry while dating Oprah Winfrey in the 1970s

John Tesh says he and Oprah Winfrey used to laugh off people who were bothered by their interracial relationship. They briefly dated in the 1970s while working at rival local TV stations in Nashville, Tenn., and Tesh, 73, called it "very uncomfortable back then for an African-American woman and a very, very white guy" to be dating.

He acknowledged the pairing was unusual in the South — his whole family grew up there and he was aware of the reaction — but the two refused to let it get to them. "It became a joke between us," he said, noting they only saw each other about once a week and would tease about which restaurant to "empty tonight." Tesh remembers they were very good friends and that Winfrey stood out from the start.

"We all knew that she was something special," he said, and he added with a laugh, "I don't even remember us kissing!

United States, Nashville, Tenn.

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