‘Crime 101’ Star Halle Berry Opens Up About Ex’s Cheating Scandal: “It Stays With You Forever”

Halle Berry says Gayle King’s recent honesty about her past marriage could help other women open up about similar experiences. She talked about it during an interview on NBC’s “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle,” which aired Thursday. Berry said she supports people sharing these kinds of personal stories because many women have gone through the same thing.

She said, “I think we should talk about it, absolutely,” and added, “I’m proud of [Gayle King] for, you know, saying that and sharing this … because it has happened to many of us.”

Gayle King recently spoke about the end of her marriage to William Bumpus on the podcast “Call Her Daddy,” hosted by Alex Cooper. During that interview, King shared a very personal memory from the time her marriage broke down. She said she came home from a trip and found Bumpus with another woman in a very shocking situation. King described the moment in a very direct way and said she did not expect her marriage to be in such a bad state.

She said, “You know how they say the wife always knows? I swear to God, I did not,” and added, “I did not. And people say, ‘But of course you knew.’ No, I really didn’t. Now it’s not like we hadn’t had arguments or anything, but I didn’t think it was in such disrepair that he was boinking around … I did not think that.”

King and Bumpus were married for about 11 years and share two children. They separated in 1993.

Halle Berry said she understands what King is talking about. Berry has also gone through a public breakup linked to cheating claims. She was married to musician Eric Benét, and their marriage ended in 2005 after about four years. Around that time, Benét entered treatment for sex addiction and later admitted to being unfaithful.

Berry has spoken about that relationship in different interviews over the years. In a 2024 appearance on the podcast “Armchair Expert” with Dax Shepard, she questioned the idea that her ex’s actions were due to addiction. She said, “I had one husband who said he was a sex addict, but I don’t fucking believe that shit.”

In her NBC interview, Berry did not name Benét directly, but she talked about how painful that period of her life was. She said she never reacted loudly in public when the news came out. Still, she explained that the memory stays with her.

“You remember every detail of the whole situation, and it stays with you forever,” she said.

Berry also said talking about painful relationships can help people heal. She explained that sharing these stories can feel like a release and can also help others feel less alone. She said, “When you can share it, somehow that’s therapeutic,” and added, “It’s a catharsis when you can really share it and someone else can say what their experience has been. So I appreciate [Gayle King].”

Today, Berry is in a relationship with musician Van Hunt. She has said in past interviews that she spent time alone before starting that relationship and focused on personal growth. She has described a period where she chose to stay single and celibate while figuring out what she wanted in life.

Gayle King, meanwhile, is currently single. Her podcast interview also led to a public response from her ex-husband William Bumpus. He apologized for what happened in their marriage and said he respects her decision to speak about it. He also said they have stayed on good terms over the years.

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