Gayle King’s ex-husband, William Bumpus, has publicly apologized after King revisited the moment she discovered his affair nearly four decades ago.
King spoke about the painful chapter on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, recalling how she returned home unexpectedly and found Bumpus with one of her close friends. After the interview, Bumpus issued a statement apologizing to King and their family.
In a statement to TMZ, Bumpus apologized to King, their two children, their children’s spouses, and their grandchildren for the pain he caused. He said the actions were his, that he had long owned them, and that King had every right to share what happened.
Bumpus Said King Has Every Right to Tell Her Story
Bumpus did not challenge King’s account. PEOPLE reported that he said the affair changed the trajectory of their marriage and family, and that he respected King’s right to speak about the painful chapter publicly.
He also described King as a major part of his life beyond the marriage itself. According to PEOPLE, Bumpus credited her with encouraging and supporting him while he earned his Yale Law degree and praised the way they later co-parented their children, Kirby and William.
King Recalled the Moment She Found Out
During her Call Her Daddy appearance, King said a canceled flight brought her home earlier than expected. Us Weekly reported that King recalled finding Bumpus at home after he tried to stop her from entering a room.
King has spoken about the discovery before. Entertainment Weekly noted that she referenced the incident in a 2016 Vanity Fair interview, saying she was “not a huge fan” of the woman she caught with her then-husband on June 24, 1990.
The Former Couple Divorced in 1993
King and Bumpus were married from 1982 to 1993. Us Weekly reported that King told Cooper she tried to repair the marriage after the affair but did not want to become someone constantly checking, searching, and doubting.
That detail gave the podcast conversation more weight. King was not only describing the discovery itself; she was explaining why the aftermath made the marriage difficult to continue.
Bumpus Said They Are in a Good Place Now
Bumpus’ statement also focused on the life he and King built after divorce. PEOPLE reported that he said their commitment to co-parenting deepened over the years and that they remain in a good place nearly four decades later.
He also acknowledged that, during their marriage, he did not fully appreciate King’s public life and wanted a more private one. PEOPLE reported that Bumpus said that was not a reflection of her talent and that he is proud of her success.