Gayle King Responds to William Bumpus' Public Apology for Past Infidelity

The 71-year-old news anchor has responded to her ex-husband's recent public apology regarding infidelity that occurred nearly 40 years ago.

Gayle King and William Bumpus were married for eleven years, from 1982 to 1993, and have two children together. During an appearance on Call Her Daddy earlier this week, King discussed the cheating incident, revealing that Bumpus had been with a close friend of hers. She discovered the situation when she returned home from the airport earlier than planned, finding him in a towel before confronting what had transpired.

Following the episode's release, Bumpus issued a statement to TMZ expressing remorse. "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," he said. "Those actions were mine. I have long owned them — including publicly in my own words in 2016, which still stand."

He further acknowledged King's right to discuss this "painful chapter" of her life and stated he remains "endlessly grateful" to her.

The following morning, King spoke with TMZ about her reaction to the apology. "I did not know he was going to do it," she shared on Thursday, May 28. "When I got up this morning and read it, I was very, very surprised. He didn't say anything to me about it, but I'm very appreciative."

King noted her surprise that the outlet had managed to reach Bumpus, describing him as someone who typically maintains a private life. "He was even talking because he never talks," she explained. "So I was surprised, but I can also say I appreciated what he had to say. That was a very painful time."

Reflecting on the broader impact of infidelity, King observed, "Anyone who has been through it knows how painful it is. But I also know that you can go through it and get through it on the other side."

She emphasized the passage of time as significant in her ability to discuss the matter openly. "This happened so long ago that we have both healed and we've both moved on," King said. "And the reason why I can talk about it so candidly is because it has been so much time that has passed. I'm in a really great place and so is he."