Exploring the Meaning of Friendship Through 10 Celebrity Duos on National Best Friends Day

Celebrity BFFs: Honoring National Best Friends Day

On June 8th, National Best Friends Day was celebrated in the United States, encouraging people around the world to spend time with their besties and tell them how much they love them. The unique bond between best friends is an integral part of the human experience, enriching lives, and, for many, saving them too. In honor of the holiday, we put together a list of our favorite celebrity BFFs, whose close bonds are BFF goals.

1. Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King

Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King have been best friends for over four decades. Their friendship began in 1976 while working at a Baltimore TV station. They have given fans an intimate look into their friendship via multiple interviews and TV specials. The daytime TV icon once said in O, The Oprah Magazine, “There isn’t a definition in our culture for this kind of bond between women. Lifts you up. Supports you. Always! That’s an incredibly rare thing between even the closest of friends.”

2. Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah

Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah met in Baltimore when Smith was a teenager and the rapper was performing in a club. Their BFF status was cemented while filming the 1996 hit film Set It Off. Queen Latifah told People in 2017 that they can have whole conversations where they haven’t really said anything, but they’ve said a lot.

3. Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart

The rapper and expert homemaker may be an unlikely pair, but their friendship is just as tight as the other BFFs on this list. Snoop Dogg considers Stewart “the big sister I never had,” and the cookbook author likes his laid-back energy, outspokenness, and his way around the kitchen.

4. Mary J. Blige and Taraji P. Henson

The pair starred in Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, and since then, they’ve been through good times and bad together. The singer was the actor’s biggest cheerleader when she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and their friendship has stood the test of time.

5. Janelle Monáe and Tessa Thompson

Janelle Monáe and Tessa Thompson have been really good friends for about three and a half years. Their close friendship even sparked romance rumors, which Monáe responded to in 2018 by sharing her love and appreciation for all women, saying, “I’m a girl’s girl, meaning I support women no matter what they choose to do.”

6. Serena Williams and Meghan Markle

Williams and Markle have been BFFs since 2010 and have been there for each other during some of the most difficult and triumphant moments in their lives. The pair has attended many of each other’s events and have been vocal about their friendship.

7. Regina King and Gabrielle Union

Though it may not seem like Regina King and Gabrielle Union are BFFs, the two are incredibly close and have spoken about their love for each other in several interviews. Plus, they’ve worked together. King directed an episode of Being Mary Jane, which starred Union, in 2015.

8. Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall

Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall have been close for over two decades and have been vocal about their BFF status. They’ve found a way to stay close even when they were competing for the same roles. Lathan presented Hall with an award at the 2019 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards luncheon, during which they called each other their “human diaries.”

9. Beyoncé, Michelle Williams, and Kelly Rowland

Destiny’s Child, managed to stay tight-knit and supportive of each other for more than 20 years. According to Michelle Williams, part of why they’re still a trio is their dedication to keeping their bond private.

10. Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson

Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson have stayed close since the filming of Lee’s School Daze, sharing a touching moment at the 2019 Oscars when Jackson gave Lee his first Academy Award for best screenplay for BlacKkKlansman.

Philosophical Discussion: The Importance of Friendship

The bond between best friends is a special one. Friendship is not only enjoyable but has a range of benefits such as improved physical and mental health, a sense of belonging, and increased self-confidence. Aristotle believed that friendships were necessary in achieving a good life, stating, “Without friends, no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.”

There are different types of friend’s and friendships, ranging from acquaintances to best friends. A best friend is defined as someone with whom you share more than just a casual relationship, someone with whom you share a close and intimate bond. The bond is built through trust, loyalty, and honesty, and often, your best friend knows you better than you know yourself.

Editorial and Advice

The friendships between these celebrity BFFs serve as an inspiration to cultivate and strengthen our own friendships. A close friend is a valuable asset, and National Best Friend Day is an opportunity to connect with your bestie, let them know how much they mean to you, and appreciate them for all the ways they have enriched your life.

However, friendships take work. It’s important to cultivate honesty, trust, loyalty, and actively listen to your friend. To maintain a close friendship, it’s important to check-in, support each other, and make time for one another. Even if it’s been a while, reaching out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while can help solidify your friendship and create new memories together.

The bond between best friends is a unique experience, enriching life, and contributing to a good life. To all the besties out there, remember to let your partner in crime know how much you appreciate them.