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After episode three of EPSN’s documentary The Last Dance highlighted the contributions of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, fans can’t get enough of the league’s most fascinating player. Rodman was polarizing both on and off the court. He was a beast as a defensive player, and in his personal life, he lived as carefree as he wanted – which sometimes was a shock to millions because of his eccentric taste and style. 

Because people were not used to athletes being “different,” Rodman’s sexuality was called into question. Despite him publicly identifying as heterosexual and having dozens of beautiful women on his arm, the rumors persisted. An old clip of Rodman on The Oprah Winfrey Show has resurfaced in which Rodman’s sexuality was discussed and fans are not happy about it.

Oprah Winfrey asks Dennis Rodman about his sexuality during an old interview

Rodman’s behavior was unusual to many. He dressed in clothing that was perceived as feminine, dyed his hair in bright colors, had a belly piercing, and wore nail polish, leaving many questioning his sexuality. Rodman typically ignored the chatter and explained that he was at a point in his life where he wanted to express himself freely and that it was unrelated to his sexuality but the questions lingered. 

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Source: Instagram

Winfrey spoke to him about his persona during an appearance on her talk show and asked him outright about sexuality. Rodman denied that he was gay.

“You did say earlier that when you were a little boy that you were worried about your own sense of sexuality growing up in a house with all females,” Winfrey said to Rodman. Rodman explained that he was shy as a child and his sexuality was not in question. Instead, it was more that he was afraid to be around men and because he feared not fitting in.

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Source: Instagram

She then asked Rodman if he was bi-sexual, which he replied no. “You do say in the book that maybe in your mind you are [bi-sexual],” Winfrey told Roman.

He replied, “I can float with the idea. However you want to look at it, I can do whatever I want…that doesn’t mean I’m going to act and do it.” He also noted that he believes every person, man or woman, is capable of being attracted to the same sex but that does not mean they will act on it.

Source: Instagram

Winfrey also asked Rodman if he’d ever been with a man sexually, which he says he had not.

Fans react to Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Dennis Rodman

Fans watched the clip and were disappointed and angered by Winfrey’s line of questioning. They felt it was insensitive for her to rephrase the question in so many ways. They voiced their frustrations on social media. 

“Hasn’t she been forever pissy because people claim that she and Gayle are lovers? You’d think she would have been more sympathetic/less accusatory,” one asked. 

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Source: Twitter

“Dennis Rodman being repeatedly and obsessively questioned by Oprah Winfrey about his sexuality was uncomfortable to watch,” another wrote.

Source: Twitter

“For years Oprah Winfrey has been rumored to be in a gay relationship with Gayle and she has never tried to come out or clear the air, maybe its beneath her but then why did she literally try to pressurize Whitney, MJ, Dennis Rodman to explain it on national television WHY,” another asked.

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Source: Twitter

“She was doing everything in her power to make him say he’s gay or bi,” one assumed.

Source: Twitter

@Oprah Your interview with @dennisrodman Do you regret asking him like 10 times was he Gay would you have asked a woman that lets us know,” asked another.

Source: Twitter

Neither Rodman nor Winfrey has spoken out about the resurfaced clip but it’s clear whose side fans are on.