Gayle King's Son Grew Up To Be Gorgeous
You may think you've heard everything there is to know about Gayle King — AKA Oprah Winfrey's best friend — but are you aware of the fact that she's a mom to two amazing adult children, including a son who's grown up to be absolutely gorgeous?
Yes, it's true! In addition to her successful career as the editor-at-large of O, The Oprah Magazine and co-anchor of CBS This Morning, King is the proud mama of Kirby Bumpus and William Bumpus Jr., whom she had with her ex-husband, lawyer William Bumpus.
While Kirby has landed her fair share of headlines over the years and built a pretty impressive career in government, William has managed to keep a rather low profile, only occasionally popping up at various events with his famous mama. We did our research, however, and here's everything you need to know about the hunky William Bumpus Jr.
His dad made headlines with a cheating scandal
Gayle King and her husband, William Bumpus, called it quits in 1993 after 11 years of marriage when — get this — the news anchor found her man in bed with another women. Speaking with Vanity Fair in 2016, Gayle didn't hold anything back when she was asked to name the one living person she despises the most. "'Despise' is a strong word," she began before firing, "I'm not a huge fan of the woman I caught naked with my now ex-husband on June 24, 1990, at 9:16 p.m. – but I don't remember the details."
Gayle's ex wasted no time issuing a public apology (despite the 26-year delay!), telling Entertainment Tonight via his rep, "I have been haunted with this life-altering choice. Though I have dealt with this privately, I publicly apologize for the major transgression that dramatically changed all of our lives."
"Despite the situation, she kept our children, as well as my relationship and involvement with them, as a clear priority," William Sr. proclaimed, praising his kids' mom before admitting, "I continue to be a work in progress and have spent the last 26 years striving to be a better man and father."
His nanny was the best gift Oprah ever got his mom
Being best friends with Oprah would surely entitle you to some pretty amazing gifts (after all, her holiday shows were LEGENDARY), but as Gayle King revealed in November 2017, the most memorable gift she ever received from her bestie was more for her son and daughter than for her.
During an appearance on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live, Gayle took fan questions and was asked by a caller, "What's your all-time favorite thing from Oprah?" As it turns out, the answer is... a nanny!
"Favorite, favorite thing I think would be, after I had my second baby — and they're, you know, 11 months apart, where you say to the doctor 'I thought this diaphragm was supposed to work?!' — she gifted me a live-in nanny," Gayle said cheekily. "I didn't plan to have babies that close together," she added before admitting, "I could never have afforded it ... That was a good gift!"
His godmother is... Oprah Winfrey, of course
When William Bumpus Jr. graduated from Duke University in 2009, Oprah Winfrey was asked to address the graduating class and wasted no time telling everyone that Gayle King's son is ... her godson! "I'm so happy to be here, and I'm here because someone I love is graduating today," she declared (via Duke Today). "My godson, William Bumpus, the son of Will Bumpus and my best friend, Gayle."
The legendary TV host went on to gush about William, sharing fond memories of him and revealing just how close they are. "I just want to say I knew William before he was born," she started. "One time, when he was a little boy, he was at my house, and I used to collect these antique museum-quality Shaker boxes. I walked into the room and William has my one-of-a-kind Shaker boxes and he's stacking them up like Bric A Blocs and knocking them down," she recalled.
"Well, William, Auntie O has some news for you: You're getting those scratched-up boxes for your graduation gift!" Oprah went on to joke before concluding, "I don't know a better young man in the world than William Bumpus. Thank you, Duke, for making him an even greater young man. And I have to say that he is so kind and so generous of spirit. William, you're the son I wish I'd had, and so I'm thrilled to be here for you. Love you, Willzer."
He's crazy tight with his mom
William Bumpus Jr.'s relationship with his mom is the definition of a strong family bond. The pair love spending time together, whether it be dining out, attending various events across the country or traveling abroad. Scroll through Gayle King's Instagram feed and you'll find countless photos of her spending time with both of her children, but it's easy to feel like her firstborn, William, gets extra special treatment.
Speaking with Us Weekly back in 2012, Gayle revealed, "I'm happiest when I'm spending time with my son and daughter" — she sure wasn't kidding! In March 2018, the trio took in their first-ever SXSW festival in Austin, courtesy of her daughter Kirby's gig at Under Armour.
The following month, William celebrated his birthday with his mom who took to Instagram to share a beaming photo of her kiddo, writing, "[The] @redlobster tradition continues for [my] fave son. His birthday dinner since he was five... yesterday, he turned 31. Gotta have that cheddar biscuit." In June, the pair was together again, this time hanging backstage at the Canadian Grand Prix with F1 legend Lewis Hamilton. Talk about inseparable!
His younger sister is quite the overachiever
While not much is known about William Bumpus Jr.'s career, his younger sister, Kirby Bumpus, has managed to build quite the impressive résumé.
According to her LinkedIn, Kirby graduated from Stanford in 2008 with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Human Biology. She then pursued a Master of Public Health degree in Sociomedical Sciences at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, which she completed in 2010.
Come mid-2014, she landed a highly coveted job at the White House where she was named Associate Deputy Director for Policy for Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative, which strove to fight childhood obesity. According to RadarOnline, her starting salary was a whopping $80,662 and went up to $84,017 by 2016.
Since December 2016, Kirby has been listed as leading "health and wellness communications at Under Armour Connected Fitness" where she also writes for the brand's My Fitness Pal blog. Her articles to date include posts such as "5 Tips to Lift You Up When Working Out Feels Pointless" and "In Crisis Mode? Here are 5 Tips to Handle Holiday Weight."
He had to share the spotlight with Oprah
She may love him and treat him like a son, but Oprah totally stole William Bumpus Jr.'s thunder when he graduated from Duke University in May 2009. Why? Because he had to share the spotlight with her, as she received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Duke president Richard H. Brodhead.
As if that wasn't enough, she then got up on stage to give the ultimate commencement address. Speaking to 4,400 grads, Oprah empowered and inspired the young adults, proclaiming (via Duke Today), "You really haven't completed the circle of success unless you can help somebody else move forward. That's the truth. Move to higher ground. That's the real goal. How do you get someone else to move to higher ground." She went on, "Each of us has to stand in our own shoes, and the real question is how will you stand in your own? Will you stand in them with humility and compassion and integrity and courage?"
Before all that, however, Oprah revealed that William wasn't particularly excited about having her there, as she joked, "William never wants people to know that he knows me, and his sister, Kirby, never did either. I'm like the crazy aunt they keep in the attic, and they let me out to do commencements, so here I am!"