Who Is Gayle King's Ex-Husband William Bumpus?

For over forty years, journalist Gayle King has been a respected TV host. Her personal story includes strength through hardship. She was once married to attorney William Bumpus, a relationship that lasted from 1982 until their divorce in 1993.

Their marriage had good times and a major scandal. Experts find their divorce and how they co-parented their children interesting. Today, as people discuss Gayle's career future, looking back at her marriage helps us understand her path as a star and a mother.

How They Met and Tied the Knot in 1982

Gayle King and William Bumpus met in the early 1980s. At the time, her TV career was just starting to grow, and he was changing his career from police work to becoming a lawyer. He seemed like a stable partner for her.They both believed in public service and got married on October 16, 1982. The wedding was simple but nice. At that time, King was working as a news reporter and also enjoying her new life as a wife.

Shocking Cheating Scandal That Ended Their Marriage

King and Bumpus's marriage ended because of a specific, traumatic incident in 1990. The way this personal crisis was revealed to the public is still studied in discussions about media ethics.

What Gayle King Walked Into

On June 24, 1990, at precisely 9:16 p.m., King returned home unexpectedly to discover Bumpus in bed with a close mutual friend, an incident she would later recount with stark precision in a 2016 Vanity Fair questionnaire. This betrayal, involving not a stranger but someone within their social circle, amplified the emotional wreckage, eroding trust at its core.

King, then 35 and at the height of her Hartford, Connecticut, anchoring tenure, described the moment as a "life-altering choice" that reshaped her worldview on fidelity and vulnerability. The scandal remained private initially, but its ripples extended to counseling sessions that proved futile, culminating in separation proceedings by 1992.

William Bumpus's Public Apology 26 Years Later (2016)

In a rare public reckoning, Bumpus issued a formal apology via his representative to Page Six on July 6, 2016, acknowledging the "major transgression" that "dramatically changed all of their lives." He expressed profound remorse, stating, "I have been haunted with this life altering choice," and lauded King's grace: "She kept our children and my relationship with them as a clear priority... a great wife, an excellent mother, and a fantastic co-parent."

Bumpus, by then a seasoned child protection attorney, framed his words as part of an ongoing "work in progress," having spent decades striving to atone through professional advocacy for vulnerable families. King's response was measured; in a 2006 radio segment, she affirmed, "I have been divorced since 1993, so I’m all healed... I’m really okay," signaling closure amid her rising stardom at The Oprah Winfrey Show.

His apology came when the media was interested again. This shows how famous people sometimes take a long time to be accountable. It also teaches therapists about what reconciliation can and cannot fix.

Life After the 1993 Divorce

The formal divorce, finalized in 1993, transitioned King and Bumpus from spouses to collaborators, a model that relationship experts cite as exemplary for minimizing intergenerational trauma.

King has processed the infidelity through introspective dialogues, particularly with Winfrey, whom she deems "one of the best therapists ever." In a 2020 Oprah's Vision Tour exchange, King dissected the emotional labor of forgiveness, noting, "It was the double betrayal—not just the act, but with someone I trusted."

Yet, she emphasized growth: "Divorce taught me self-reliance; it honed my empathy for interviewing wounded souls." By 2022, on Brooke Shields's podcast, King highlighted co-parenting's redemptive power, crediting it for her emotional equilibrium. These reflections, woven into her on-air authenticity, resonate with audiences grappling with similar ruptures.

Recent Updates on Gayle King's Love Life in 2025

As King navigates 70, her personal sphere intersects intriguingly with professional pivots, signaling a chapter of reinvention.

Her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover and Ex's Sweet Reaction

King's 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, shot in Puerto Rico, elicited Bumpus's effusive praise: "My teenage fantasy... You Look Fantastic!"

In April 2025, post her all-female Blue Origin spaceflight, King confided at the TIME 100 Gala: "Getting married" tops her list, quipping, "No, piercing my ears." This aspiration 32 years post-divorce reflects optimism untethered from past wounds.

CBS Mornings Rumors

October 2025 reports speculated King's exit from CBS Mornings upon her May 2026 contract end, citing network turmoil. CBS refuted: "No discussions" on renewal, affirming her value. Analysts posit this limbo could free capacity for romantic pursuits, aligning with her bucket list ethos.

How Their Friendship Shaped Gayle's Journey

Winfrey's 48-year bond with King, forged in 1976 Baltimore, proved indispensable during the 1990s upheaval. As King navigated single motherhood and O, The Oprah Magazine editorship, Winfrey offered "unwavering therapy," hosting family events and officiating milestones. This platonic anchor, dissected in their 2024 Sibling Revelry podcast, exemplifies friendships as marital safeguards.