Gayle King is opening up about one of the most painful moments in her past — the day she says she caught her ex-husband, William G. Bumpus, cheating with a close friend inside their home.

The TV journalist shared the story on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, recalling how a sudden change of travel plans led her to return home early and uncover the situation.

King, 71, said she first became suspicious when she arrived and noticed something unusual about the house security.

"The alarm was set, which I thought, 'That's strange, because you're in here by yourself,'" she recalled.

Moments later, she said Bumpus rushed out and told her there was someone inside the house while trying to keep her from going in. At first, King said she didn't understand what was happening and began searching the home. That is when she says she discovered the truth.

"I didn't believe him," she said. "I get down and there they are — or there she is cowering behind the door in my towel."

According to Page Six, King said the shock made her freeze emotionally, even as she confronted both her husband and the woman involved.

"I can't believe that you are here and that you are doing this," she remembered telling them. She also said she even told the woman, "I thought we were friends," describing the moment as painful and humiliating.

Gayle King Focused on Protecting Kids

One unexpected complication, she said, was accidentally triggering the home alarm system when she arrived.

Police were called to the scene, and even recognized her from television. King said she tried to stay calm while dealing with officers, hoping to keep the situation private for the sake of her children. Her main concern throughout the ordeal was protecting her kids, Kirby and Will, who were not inside the home at the time.

"The kids are here, I don't want anybody to know," she said, explaining that keeping things from becoming a public scene mattered most in that moment, US Magazine reported. King also shared that she later called her best friend Oprah Winfrey for advice.

According to King, Winfrey encouraged her to confront the situation directly and contact the other woman's husband, even though King initially hesitated. It reportedly took hours of discussion before she followed through.

The journalist said the experience changed how she viewed trust in her marriage. She and Bumpus tried to reconcile after the incident but eventually divorced in 1993 after further issues.

Tags
Gayle King, Cheating