Gayle King’s recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast sparked widespread conversation after she revisited the painful moment she discovered her then-husband, William Bumpus, was having an affair with one of her friends. Now, Bumpus is publicly responding with an apology and words of appreciation for the longtime journalist and media personality.
Following King’s interview with host Alex Cooper, Bumpus released a statement to several media outlets, including TMZ and Page Six, acknowledging the hurt caused by his actions and expressing regret for the impact they had on his family.
“My deepest apologies to Gayle, to our daughter Kirby and her husband Virgil, to our son William and his wife Elise, and to our three grandchildren for the pain I caused decades ago,” Bumpus said. “Those actions were mine. I have long owned them — including publicly in my own words in 2016, which still stand.”
His statement came just days after King recalled on the podcast how she unexpectedly discovered the affair after returning home from a canceled flight. During the conversation, she shared details of finding another woman in her home, a moment that ultimately changed the course of their marriage.
Bumpus acknowledged that King has every right to revisit that chapter of her life.
“Gayle has every right to share what was a painful chapter that changed the trajectory of our marriage and our family nearly 40 years ago. I respect her right to tell her story, and that’s where I’ll leave it,” he said.
The attorney also took time to recognize the family they built together during and after their marriage. Bumpus and King were married from 1982 until 1993 and share two children, Kirby and William.
Reflecting on their years together, he expressed gratitude for King’s support throughout his academic journey and praised her commitment to maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship after their divorce.
“I remain endlessly grateful to Gayle for giving me our incredible children and for supporting me through getting my Yale Law degree,” he said.
According to Bumpus, King prioritized co-parenting from the very beginning, helping them establish a foundation that continues to benefit their family decades later.
“The love and camaraderie we forged in that work have carried us all these years,” he explained. “Nearly four decades later, that commitment has only deepened, and Gayle and I remain in a good place.”
He even shared a recent example of their continued friendship, revealing that King recently sent birthday wishes to his teenage daughter, Poet, on her 16th birthday.
As he reflected on their marriage, Bumpus admitted that one challenge during their relationship was adjusting to the public nature of King’s growing career.
“As a private person by nature, I will admit that during our marriage I did not fully appreciate Gayle’s public life,” he said. “I am proud to have had a front-row seat to Gayle’s remarkable success, and I remain a genuine admirer and fan.”
Closing out his statement, Bumpus said he remains focused on his family, clients, and personal growth while continuing to appreciate the friendship he and King have maintained over the years.
His response arrives after King’s candid discussion reignited public interest in a deeply personal chapter of her life, one that both former spouses now appear to view through the lens of reflection, accountability, and family.
