Who is Gayle King’s ex-husband William Bumpus as she speaks out about him cheating on her?

When American TV personbality Gayle King appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper on Wednesday May 27, she spoke out about her ex-husband William Bumpus and the moment she discovered he cheated on her whilst the couple were married. Gayle King took to Instagram and wrote: “I met @alexandracooper years ago as she was just beginning to soar—and she already had that it factor.

“I interviewed her at a conference and now the tables have turned because she’s interviewing ME for this week’s @callherdaddy! We had an unfiltered conversation about EVERYTHING and it’s available now on her YouTube channel and wherever you podcast. Thank you for having me, Alex!”

The Instagram for Call Her Daddy also publicised the Gayle King interview on Instagram and wrote: “IT’S GAYLE KING WEEK!! This week, Gayle sits down with Alex to discuss the headlines, heartbreak, and hard-earned wisdom that shaped her into the woman she is today. She opens up about navigating sexism and racism in the industry, her 50-year friendship with Oprah, and the moment she discovered her husband was having an affair with one of her friends.

“Gayle also reflects on aging, confidence, and embracing every version of herself. Link in bio to listen now.”

In response, one person wrote: “This is so juicy. 2. I am my bestie’s Oprah because what do you mean should I call?!! We’re calling on three way 🤣🤣,” whilst another said: “Oprah said, "He left you? And went with her?" Pointing out the clearest signs we all ignore. She's on another level.”

In the interview Gayle King told Alex King that “He comes flying out of the room. He's got a towel on and he goes, ‘You can't come in,' ”and Gayle said that she reacted by saying “What do you mean I can't come in? What are you talking about?”

Gayle King continued: “I start searching the house because I didn't believe him. I didn't believe him,” she said. “I get down and there she is, cowering behind the door in my towel, Alex. It was a nice bath sheet.” Gayle King expressed how shocked she was to discover her ‘friend’ with her then husband and said: “I said, ‘I can't believe that you are here and you are doing this,' ” and added “I even said, ‘I thought we were friends.' I sounded so pitiful.”

Gayle King also shared how she didn’t want her children to know what was going on and said: “Because I was thinking, ‘The kids are here. I don't want anybody to know.' That was my main thought — I don't want anybody to know… I kept thinking, I don't want it to be a scene because they're little. They know this person.”

Gayle King then revealed that she called her friend Oprah Winfrey who said: “Oh, girl, you don't even know how bad this is,” and told her to call the former friend’s husband which she did. Gayle King revealed how the conversation went and how he said: “She told me you would be calling. She said that you came home early unexpected, and you drew the wrong conclusion. And she told me you would call and say that you thought they were having an affair.' Masterful, isn't that masterful?”

According to Gayle, he also said: “You are delusional and out of touch with reality and I suggest you get some help,' ”and she answered by saying: “Okay, you think I should get some help? Does your wife have a pink satin pajama top? Does she have some green mint panties that go with that? And oh, by the way, Richard, there are semen stains in my bed. So am I delusional and out of touch with reality? Go f--- yourself.”

Although Gayle King and her then husband William Bumpus went on to have counselling, they ultimately divorced. William Bumpus is a lawyer and was married to Gayle King from 1982 to 1993, the couple share two children together, a daughter Kirby and son William Bumpus Jr.

William Bumpus has now apologised to Gayle King via TMZ nearly 40 years on after cheating on his then wife and said: “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. Those actions were mine. I have long owned them — including publicly in my own words in 2016, which still stand."