Gayle King teased co-anchor Tony Dukoupil for his absence on Monday’s episode of CBS Mornings. 

The television personality pointed out that she, Nate Burleson and Vladimir Duthiers were the only Black anchors working on the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Deadline reported.

Though there was no mention of why Dukoupil was absent, the 68-year-old hoped he enjoyed his day off.

“Is it lost on anybody that the only white guy at the table is off today to celebrate Juneteenth, and we are still here?” King jokingly asked. “Glad to be here. I hope Tony is celebrating his Juneteenth holiday! Welcome to CBS Mornings!”

King’s witty remark made two of her co-anchors laugh during the show.

As the trio welcomed viewers to the morning program, Burleson quickly said, “Tony, we love you.”

“We do,” King responded.

Twitter users shared their thoughts on the Maryland native’s statement about Dukoupil’s absence.

“Hey @GayleKing you queen for that nice and petty Sub the only person off on Juneteenth is the white guy 😂😂😂😂,” one user said. 

“Gayle King said why is the white guy off for Juneteenth and I am screaming cause that’s been my energy all day,” another user wrote.

“Gayle King said, “Oprah Winfrey is my bestie so I say what I want! Hmph.”🤣💅You know you that woman when you comfortably read your employer for filth while at work! A quintessential “Who gon check me boo?” moment! #Juneteenth2023,” a third user tweeted.

As Blavity reported, President Joe Biden held a signing ceremony at the White House and officially declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.

“Juneteenth marks both a long, hard night of slavery and subjugation and the promise of a brighter morning to come,” Biden said, according to NBC News. “This is a day, in my view, of profound weight and profound power. A day in which we remember the moral stain, terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take.”

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