Gayle King is speaking out after her ex-husband, William Bumpus, unexpectedly issued a public apology following her recent comments about the affair that ended their marriage decades ago.
The veteran broadcaster said she was caught off guard when Bumpus released a statement responding to stories she shared during a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast. According to King, she had no advance warning that he planned to address the situation publicly.
“I was very, very surprised,” King told TMZ. “He didn't say anything to me about it, so I was surprised, but I'm very appreciative.”
The apology came after King revisited one of the most painful chapters of her personal life during the podcast interview. She recalled discovering Bumpus involved with another woman inside their home, an experience that ultimately contributed to the collapse of their marriage. The former couple was married from 1982 until 1993 and shared two children, Kirby and William Bumpus Jr.
Following King's remarks, Bumpus issued a statement acknowledging the damage his actions caused. “Those actions were mine. I have long owned them,” he said, adding that King had every right to discuss a chapter of her life that profoundly affected their family.
He also offered “deepest apologies” to King, their children, and their grandchildren for “the pain I caused decades ago.”
For King, the apology carried weight because of how rarely her ex-husband publicly discusses their relationship. While she admitted she never expected him to respond, she said she appreciated the gesture.
“I appreciate it, because listen, that was a very painful time,” King said. “Anybody that's been through it knows how painful it is.” She added that enough time has passed for both of them to heal and move forward, which is why she feels comfortable discussing the experience publicly today.
The renewed attention around their marriage follows another recent revelation from King. Earlier this month, she joked during a television segment that Bumpus once made her give up a beloved dog because he disliked pets. Looking back, King laughed that the situation “should have been a clue,” though she admitted she's still “a little bitter” about it.
The cheating scandal itself was not new territory. In 2016, after King publicly referenced the affair, Bumpus issued a similar apology, describing the decision as a “life-altering choice” that had haunted him for years. At the time, he praised King as a devoted mother, co-parent, and former spouse.
