When people search for Gayle King ex husband, they are usually looking for information about William Bumpus, the attorney Gayle King was married to for 11 years. Their marriage began in 1982 and ended in divorce in 1993, and the former couple share two children, Kirby and William Jr.

Bumpus has remained a relatively private figure compared with King, whose career in television journalism has made her a household name. However, his own professional background extends well beyond his connection to the longtime broadcaster. He has worked in law, public service, education, and child protection.

Their divorce has also remained part of King’s public story because she has discussed the circumstances surrounding the end of the marriage at different points over the years. In 2026, she provided additional details during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, bringing renewed attention to Bumpus and their relationship.

This article explains who William Bumpus is, how his marriage to Gayle King unfolded, why they divorced, what is known about his career, and how their relationship developed after their separation.

Key Takeaways

• William Bumpus is an American attorney and the former husband of journalist and television personality Gayle King.
• King and Bumpus married in 1982 and divorced in 1993 after 11 years of marriage.
• They have two children together: daughter Kirby Bumpus and son William Bumpus Jr.
• Bumpus studied at Yale Law School and has worked in prosecution, child protection, private law, and education.
• King has publicly discussed infidelity as a major factor in the breakdown of their marriage.
• Bumpus publicly apologized for his actions in 2016 and again addressed the past in 2026 after King revisited the story publicly.
• Despite their divorce, the former couple have maintained a connection through their children and extended family.

Biography Table

Who Is Gayle King’s Ex-Husband William Bumpus?

William Bumpus is an attorney whose public profile is largely connected to his former marriage to Gayle King. While King went on to become a prominent television journalist, Bumpus pursued a career in law and public service.

His professional background includes work as a police officer, prosecutor, Connecticut assistant attorney general, and private attorney. He has also been associated with higher education, including work at Central Connecticut State University.

That career history is important because it shows that Bumpus was established professionally independently of his relationship with King.

He is particularly associated with legal work involving family and child-related matters. Public profiles have also described his experience in Connecticut’s child-protection system.

William Bumpus’s Education

Bumpus attended Central Connecticut State University before earning a law degree from Yale Law School. Sources reporting on his career identify his Yale legal education as an important step in his professional development.

His career subsequently moved through several areas of the legal system, including prosecution and child protection.

This background makes his professional story considerably broader than the label “Gayle King’s ex-husband” might suggest.

When Did Gayle King and William Bumpus Get Married?

Gayle King and William Bumpus married in 1982. Their marriage lasted approximately 11 years before the couple divorced in 1993.

At the time, King was building her career in broadcasting, while Bumpus was developing his professional path in law.

Their marriage eventually became a family with two children.

Gayle King and William Bumpus’s Children

King and Bumpus have two children:

• Kirby Bumpus
• William Bumpus Jr.

Their daughter Kirby was born in 1986, followed by their son William Jr. in 1987.

Both children have grown up away from the level of public attention surrounding their mother. Nevertheless, King has frequently spoken about the importance of family and maintaining a healthy relationship with Bumpus as co-parents.

Their children became an important reason for the former couple to maintain communication after their divorce.

Why Did Gayle King and William Bumpus Divorce?

The breakdown of King and Bumpus’s marriage has been discussed publicly for many years.

King has said that infidelity played a significant role in the end of their relationship. She previously discussed the subject publicly in 2006 and later provided additional details in interviews and other appearances.

In 2016, King described discovering Bumpus having an affair with a woman who was known to her. Bumpus subsequently issued a public apology and accepted responsibility for his conduct.

The couple did not immediately divorce after the incident. King has explained that they attempted counseling and tried to work through the problems in their marriage. Ultimately, however, the relationship did not recover, and they divorced in 1993.

What Happened Between Them in 1990?

The most widely reported incident occurred in 1990.

King has described returning home unexpectedly after a canceled flight and discovering Bumpus with another woman. In a 2026 interview, she discussed the experience in considerably more detail than she had previously shared publicly.

According to King’s account, she initially tried to save the marriage. She later concluded that continuing the relationship was negatively affecting her own well-being.

The couple ultimately divorced three years after the incident.

It is important to distinguish between King’s public account and Bumpus’s own later statements. Bumpus acknowledged the affair and apologized publicly rather than disputing responsibility for what happened.

William Bumpus’s Public Apology

Bumpus publicly addressed the affair in 2016, more than two decades after his divorce from King.

In his statement, he expressed regret for what he described as a life-changing mistake and praised King for the way she handled their family following the divorce.

His comments were notable because they acknowledged the impact of his actions on both King and their children.

The issue resurfaced again in 2026 after King spoke about the marriage and the affair during her Call Her Daddy appearance. Bumpus responded with another public apology, saying that the actions were his responsibility and expressing gratitude for their children and their co-parenting relationship.

What Does William Bumpus Do for a Living?

William Bumpus has spent much of his professional life in the legal field.

His career has included several different roles:

1. Police officer: Earlier in his career, Bumpus worked as a police officer in Kansas City.
2. Prosecutor: He later worked as an assistant state’s attorney in Connecticut.
3. Assistant attorney general: His legal career included work in Connecticut’s child-protection unit.
4. Educator: He has also been associated with Central Connecticut State University as an adjunct professor and administrator.
5. Private attorney: Later in his career, he worked in private legal practice, including family and child-related law.

Some current online profiles describe him as connected with The Wolf & Shore Law Group, while other reporting has noted that he previously indicated that he had retired. Because his current professional status is not consistently reported across sources, it is better not to treat every online profile as definitive.

Gayle King and William Bumpus After Divorce

A divorce does not necessarily end every connection between two people, particularly when children are involved.

King and Bumpus continued communicating because they shared parental responsibilities. King has spoken about the importance of maintaining a relationship with Bumpus for the sake of their children.

Bumpus similarly praised King for prioritizing their children after their marriage ended.

In his 2026 statement, he described their long-term co-parenting relationship positively and expressed gratitude for the family they built together.

This later relationship provides an important piece of context when examining their divorce. The marriage ended, but their family connection continued.

Their Relationship Today

Public comments from both King and Bumpus indicate that they have reached a more cordial place over the years.

Their adult children, their spouses, and grandchildren have created additional family connections. Bumpus has spoken publicly about his gratitude for the co-parenting relationship he and King developed after the divorce.

King has also joked publicly about her ex-husband in later years, suggesting that the relationship is no longer defined solely by the painful circumstances surrounding their divorce. In 2024, for example, she joked about sending Bumpus a copy of her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover.

Gayle King and William Bumpus Relationship Timeline

The timeline reflects publicly reported events and statements rather than private details that have not been independently established.

Why William Bumpus Remains a Search Topic

Interest in William Bumpus is closely tied to Gayle King’s continuing public career.

King has remained a prominent television journalist, and developments in her personal life often generate renewed interest in people connected to her past. When she discussed her former marriage again in 2026, searches about Bumpus naturally increased because many readers wanted to understand who he was and what happened between the couple.

However, Bumpus’s identity is not limited to his former marriage.

His legal career spans decades and includes public-sector work, education, and private legal practice. That professional history provides useful context for anyone researching him beyond the headline surrounding his divorce.

Does Gayle King Have a Relationship With Her Ex-Husband Today?

King and Bumpus are no longer married, but they have maintained a family connection through their children.

Their public statements over the years indicate that they have been able to co-parent despite the difficult circumstances surrounding their divorce. Bumpus specifically praised King’s commitment to maintaining his relationship with their children.

Their later interactions have also included family milestones and occasional public comments.

That does not mean their past marriage was without conflict. Rather, their story illustrates how a former couple can maintain a family relationship after a marriage ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Gayle King’s ex-husband?

Gayle King’s ex-husband is William Bumpus, an attorney who has worked in law, prosecution, child protection, and education. King and Bumpus were married from 1982 until their divorce in 1993.

When did Gayle King and William Bumpus get divorced?

Gayle King and William Bumpus divorced in 1993, after approximately 11 years of marriage.

Why did Gayle King divorce William Bumpus?

King has publicly said that infidelity was a major factor in the breakdown of their marriage. She later explained that the couple attempted counseling but ultimately ended the relationship.

How many children do Gayle King and William Bumpus have?

They have two children, daughter Kirby Bumpus and son William Bumpus Jr.

What does William Bumpus do?

William Bumpus is an attorney. His career has included work as a prosecutor, Connecticut assistant attorney general, child-protection lawyer, educator, and private attorney.

Did William Bumpus apologize to Gayle King?

Yes. Bumpus publicly apologized in 2016 for his infidelity. He addressed the matter again in 2026 after King publicly revisited the circumstances surrounding their divorce.

Did Gayle King and William Bumpus stay in contact after their divorce?

Yes. Their children gave them an ongoing family connection, and both have publicly discussed maintaining a cooperative co-parenting relationship after the divorce.

Is William Bumpus still a lawyer?

Bumpus has had a long legal career, but publicly available information about his current professional status is inconsistent. Some profiles continue to list him with a law firm, while reporting has noted that he previously described himself as retired.

Conclusion

William Bumpus is best known publicly as Gayle King’s ex-husband, but his story extends beyond his former marriage. He built a lengthy career in law and public service, including work in prosecution, child protection, education, and private legal practice.

King and Bumpus married in 1982, had two children, and divorced in 1993 after a difficult breakdown in their relationship. King has spoken openly about infidelity as a major factor in the divorce, while Bumpus has publicly accepted responsibility and apologized for his actions.

Their story did not end completely with the divorce. Because they remained parents to Kirby and William Jr., they continued to share a family connection. Their later comments suggest that, despite the painful history of their marriage, they eventually developed a cooperative relationship centered on their children and extended family.