Gayle King’s Husband William Bumpus: Marriage, Divorce, Children, and Life After Today

If you’re searching for Gayle King’s husband, you’re usually trying to untangle one simple fact from a lot of recycled internet noise. Gayle King was married once, to attorney William Bumpus. They later divorced, and she has not remarried. Here’s the full, clear story—who he is, what happened in their marriage, what they share as co-parents, and why the “husband” label is outdated in most current conversations.

Quick Facts

• Gayle King’s husband (former): William Bumpus
• Marriage: Early 1980s
• Divorce: 1993 (widely reported)
• Children: Two (Kirby and William Jr.)
• Did Gayle King remarry? No

Who Is Gayle King?

Gayle King is a veteran journalist and television host known for her warm, direct interviewing style and her ability to make people talk like they’re speaking to a real person—not a camera. Over the years, she’s become one of the most recognizable faces in American morning news, with a career that blends serious reporting and easy, human conversation.

She’s also famous for her decades-long friendship with Oprah Winfrey, a relationship that has become a cultural reference point all on its own. And that’s part of why people keep Googling her personal life: when someone feels “familiar” on TV, viewers naturally want the off-camera version of the story too.

Who Is Gayle King’s Husband?

The accurate answer is: Gayle King’s husband was William Bumpus. If you’re writing about her today, the correct term is ex-husband, because their marriage ended in divorce decades ago.

You’ll still see headlines and bio pages using “husband” because that’s what people type into search engines. But it’s not the current reality. Gayle King is not publicly known to be married now, and she has been open that she hasn’t remarried since her divorce.

Who Is William Bumpus?

William Bumpus is an attorney who has been described in mainstream coverage as having worked in public service law in Connecticut, including as an assistant attorney general. He is not a celebrity in the entertainment sense, which is why his name is mostly searched in connection with Gayle King rather than as a standalone public figure.

That difference matters. When a spouse isn’t a full-time public personality, the internet often fills the gaps with exaggerated or unreliable details—especially on “celebrity bio” sites that copy each other. The dependable, widely repeated facts are simple: he’s a lawyer, he was Gayle King’s husband, and they share two children.

When Did Gayle King and William Bumpus Get Married?

Gayle King and William Bumpus are widely reported to have married in the early 1980s (commonly cited as 1982). That timeline fits the period when Gayle was building her career and life as a young journalist and broadcaster.

The reason you may see slight variation in the exact year is because many biographies rely on secondary summaries rather than original marriage records. But the overall timeline is consistent across reputable coverage: early 1980s wedding, early 1990s divorce.

How Long Were They Married?

The marriage lasted roughly a decade-plus, ending in divorce in 1993, which is the year most major write-ups repeat. That means the relationship was a real chapter of her adult life, not a quick celebrity marriage that blinked and disappeared. They built a family together, and that family connection remains relevant even after the marriage ended.

Why Did Gayle King and William Bumpus Divorce?

Gayle King has spoken publicly about the emotional pain connected to the end of the marriage. The detail that many people remember—because she has referenced it openly in past interviews—is that she discovered her husband with another woman, and it became a defining moment in how she experienced betrayal and trust.

That doesn’t mean you can reduce an entire marriage to one moment. But it does explain why her divorce story still comes up so often: she didn’t present it as a vague “we grew apart” situation. She has described it as a hurt that stayed with her for years, even as she moved forward in life.

There’s also an important nuance that gets lost online: she has shared that the betrayal didn’t just end the marriage; it reshaped how she viewed commitment and vulnerability afterward. That’s why her personal life has often been described as private and guarded in the years since.

Do Gayle King and William Bumpus Have Children?

Yes. Gayle King and William Bumpus have two children:

• Kirby Bumpus
• William Bumpus Jr.

Gayle has spoken warmly and proudly about being a mother, and it’s one of the most consistent “personal” themes you’ll hear from her. Even if her romantic life has stayed relatively quiet, her identity as a parent has always felt central and non-negotiable.

As the years went on, her children’s milestones—education, careers, adult life—became the family story she shared most comfortably. That’s also why some readers confuse “family visibility” with “marriage visibility.” Gayle has been visible as a mother, but she hasn’t rebuilt her public identity around a new husband.

Did Gayle King Ever Remarry?

No. Gayle King has not remarried after divorcing William Bumpus. That fact is the reason your “husband” search can feel so confusing: you’re searching for a current spouse, but her most documented marriage is in the past.

In celebrity culture, there’s a constant assumption that everyone eventually “moves on” into another marriage—especially someone who is beloved, successful, and socially connected. But real life doesn’t follow a script. Many people build full, happy lives without remarrying, and Gayle’s story has often been described in exactly that way: fulfilled professionally, deeply connected personally, but not remarried.

How Gayle King Talks About Love After Divorce

Gayle King has been candid over the years about how divorce can change you—especially when the breakup involves betrayal. When someone experiences a deep trust break, it’s common to become more careful, more private, and less willing to gamble emotionally just to meet society’s expectations.

That doesn’t mean she hasn’t dated or hasn’t wanted love. It means she hasn’t turned dating into a public performance, and she hasn’t presented remarriage as a goal she needs to prove she’s “okay.” If anything, her public approach suggests a different philosophy: build a life you enjoy first, then allow relationships to fit into it only if they truly add peace.

It’s also worth noting that being a public figure changes the stakes. Dating is already complicated. Dating when strangers feel entitled to comment on your choices can make “privacy” feel less like a preference and more like a form of self-protection.

Common Confusions to Avoid

Confusion: Is Gayle King married right now?
She is not publicly known to be married, and her only widely documented marriage ended in divorce.

Confusion: Is Oprah Winfrey her spouse?
No. They are longtime friends, and the internet has recycled rumors for years because people struggle to accept deep platonic friendship as real.

Confusion: Why do some sites list different marriage years?
Because many low-quality bio pages copy each other and introduce small errors. The broad timeline remains consistent: early 1980s marriage, divorce in 1993.

The Simple Answer

Gayle King’s husband was William Bumpus. They married in the early 1980s, had two children (Kirby and William Jr.), and divorced in 1993. Gayle has not remarried, which is why “husband” searches today almost always point back to her former marriage rather than a current spouse.