ABC News has decided to fire GMA3 co-anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, who were revealed to be in a personal relationship last year. The network confirmed the news on Friday, January 27, 2024, after several weeks of speculation and investigation.
Robach and Holmes, who were both married to other people at the time, had been hosting the third hour of Good Morning America, titled GMA3: What You Need to Know, since 2020. They were taken off the air in early December 2023, after the Daily Mail published a story about their affair, which they claimed had been going on for more than a year.
The story sparked a media frenzy and a backlash from viewers, who accused the co-anchors of being unprofessional and unethical. ABC News president Kim Godwin launched an internal review of the situation, and reportedly considered various options, such as reassigning them to different roles or shows or keeping them on GMA3 with a third co-host.
However, after consulting with Robach and Holmes, Godwin ultimately decided to terminate their contracts and part ways with them. In a statement, an ABC News spokesperson said: “After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, about different options, we all agreed it’s best for everyone that they move on from ABC News. We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions.”
Robach and Holmes also broke their silence on the matter and released a joint statement on their new podcast, Amy & T.J., which they launched on iHeartMedia on December 5, 2024. In the podcast, they admitted that they were in love with each other and planned to start a new life together, but also expressed their regret and remorse for the pain they caused to their ex-spouses, their children, their colleagues, and their fans.
They said: “We know we made a huge mistake, and we are not proud of how we handled things. We are deeply sorry for hurting the people we love, and for disappointing the people who trusted us. We take full responsibility for our actions, and we respect ABC’s decision to let us go. We are grateful for the opportunity they gave us, and for the support they showed us during this difficult time.”
They also revealed that they had been going through divorces at the time of their affair and that they intended to tell ABC about their relationship once their divorces were finalized. However, they said they were blindsided by the tabloid report, which exposed their affair to the public before they were ready.
They said: “We were both unhappy in our marriages, and we found comfort and happiness in each other. We were not doing anything technically wrong, but we knew we were doing something morally wrong. We were planning to end our marriages and come clean to ABC, but someone leaked our story to the press, and everything changed. We were shocked and scared, and we didn’t know how to deal with it.”
They also thanked their listeners, their friends, and their supporters, and said they hoped to move on from the scandal and rebuild their careers and reputations. They said: “We are not perfect, and we are not saints. We are human beings who made a mistake, and who are trying to learn from it.
We are not asking for sympathy or forgiveness, but we are asking for understanding and compassion. We are still passionate about journalism, and we hope to continue doing what we love. We are also still in love with each other, and we hope to have a future together.”
Robach and Holmes were replaced by Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos on GMA3, who had been filling in for them since their suspension. ABC News has not announced whether Benitez and Ramos will become the permanent co-anchors of the show, or whether they will make any changes to the format or the title of the show.
GMA3, which debuted in 2018 as GMA Day, is an afternoon spinoff of Good Morning America, featuring news, interviews, and lifestyle segments. It has undergone several rebrandings and reshufflings over the years and has struggled to find a stable and successful identity and audience. The Robach-Holmes scandal was the latest setback for the show, which has faced criticism and controversy for its handling of the situation.
