Gayle King’s ‘Favorite Son’ Proposes to Girlfriend with Oprah’s Help: ‘It Has Happened!’

In recent exciting news, Gayle King’s “favorite son,” Will Bumpus Jr., has embarked on a new chapter of his life by proposing to his beloved girlfriend, Elise Smith. The special day took place with a little magical assistance from Oprah Winfrey.

King captured and shared behind-the-scenes footage of the heartwarming moment showcasing the joy and love surrounding the newly-engaged couple. Her post included a carousel of pictures and videos that vividly narrated the proposal’s enchanting story.

The first photo featured the happy couple hand in hand with their faces glowing. Smith adorned a chic all-white ensemble, including a cozy sweater paired with flared dress pants for the event. Bumpus was dressed in a smart casual outfit, sporting cream-colored pants, a white shirt, and a blazer.

The beautiful setting, accentuated by the presence of family and friends, added a layer of warmth and celebration to the occasion. Winfrey’s involvement in the planning was shown through a video of her alongside Gayle King and another woman, deliberating on the proposal’s backdrop and the photographer’s positioning.

Also present in that video were King’s grandson, baby Luca, and Winfrey’s dogs. Footage of the actual proposal — captured from a window inside what appeared to be a house — showed Bumpus and Smith strolling through a vast, flower-filled garden right before he positioned himself in front of her to get down on one knee and pop the question.

The beautiful moment was met with cheers from friends and family, who watched excitedly from inside. A subsequent celebration inside the home showed the newly engaged couple being greeted with more applause and cheering. Smith looked overwhelmingly happy as she held onto her chest, flashing her gorgeous ring.

Additional pictures provided a romantic glimpse of the couple posing in the garden and a heartwarming family moment with Smith, King, Bumpus, and baby Luca, alongside a group shot of all the guests raising glasses in a toast to the couple.

Apart from the array of photos, King’s caption also captured the essence of the celebration. It read, “It has happened! […] @willgb3 has found his person and I now have a favorite daughter-in-law to be: The lovely @elisemariesmith! There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen and a lot of planning went into this moment […] now just waiting for the date of the wedding! 👰🏽‍♀️🤵🏽‍♂️.”

Not only is King’s son flourishing in his personal life, but he has also built an illustrious career over the years. As a visionary partner at Concrete Rose, Bumpus displays a profound dedication to closing opportunity gaps for communities of color, articulated through his initiative, reWerk, and other career achievements.

He articulated this commitment by stating, “I’m passionate about finding ways to close opportunity gaps that exist for communities of color, not only with financial capital but leveraging social capital to power the virtuous cycle we envision at Concrete Rose.”

Similarly, his fiancée — co-founder & CEO of Praxis Labs — is equally driven by a mission to foster educational equity and workplace opportunity which she said was inspired by her parents’ legacy. On this, she divulged, “Our systems and structures should allow us all to thrive in our workplaces and in the places we frequent everyday — that’s why I do this work.”

Smith and Bumpus’ shared ideals and aspirations underscore the profound connection between the duo. While their wedding date has not been set, King looks forward to receiving word of her son’s big day.