Gayle King’s ex-husband William Bumpus issues fresh apology over infidelity

Attorney William Bumpus has issued a renewed public apology for his past infidelity following recent comments made by his ex-wife, broadcaster Gayle King, about the breakdown of their marriage.

Bumpus said he accepts full responsibility for the pain caused during the relationship and expressed regret to King, their children, and extended family in a statement to TMZ.

“My deepest apologies to Gayle, to our daughter Kirby and her husband Virgil, to our son William and his wife Elise, to our grandchildren, for the pain I caused decades ago,” he said.

He added that he has previously acknowledged his actions publicly and continues to stand by those earlier admissions.

Bumpus also said King has every right to speak about her experiences, describing the events as a painful chapter that “changed the trajectory” of their family nearly 40 years ago.

The attorney, who divorced King in 1993, said he remains grateful for their shared life and the two children they raised together, noting that they have maintained a cooperative co-parenting relationship over the years.

“She gave me two of the greatest gifts of my life — our daughter Kirby and our son William,” he said, adding that King supported him during his education and professional development, including his time at Yale Law School.

Bumpus said their relationship has evolved into one of mutual respect, adding that he considers himself a supporter of King’s career and accomplishments.

“I am proud to have had a front-row seat to Gayle’s remarkable success,” he said, describing her as someone he continues to admire.

He also reflected on the challenges of balancing marriage with King’s high-profile media career, acknowledging that he struggled at times with her public life.

Despite their difficult past, Bumpus said he believes they are now in a “good place” and emphasized that his focus remains on his family, work, and personal growth.

His statement comes after King revisited the breakdown of their marriage during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, where she recounted discovering her husband’s infidelity.

King described returning home unexpectedly and confronting a situation that confirmed her suspicions, an experience she said marked a turning point in their relationship.

She also reflected on the emotional toll of the marriage, revealing that the couple briefly attempted counselling before ultimately divorcing after further incidents of infidelity.

King said she stayed in the marriage for the sake of their children but ultimately decided to leave after realising she no longer recognised the person she had become.

Despite the painful history, both parties have since co-parented their children and maintained what they describe as a respectful relationship in the decades following their separation.