Amy Robach and TJ Holmes have reportedly been taken off air amid rumours of a relationship between the two GMA3 anchors.
On Monday, Variety reported that ABC News president Kim Godwin informed staff about the change during an editorial call. The outlet noted that Robach and Holmes will not perform their anchoring duties as ABC News weighs the impact their alleged relationship may have on the show and the company, with Godwin reportedly referring to the rumoured relationship as “an internal and external disruption”.
However, Godwin allegedly told employees that Robach and Holmes have not violated any company policy.
As for who will fill their roles, a source told Variety that Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos will co-host Monday’s broadcast. It’s currently unclear whether Robach and Holmes will return for the remainder of the week.
The decision comes after reports broke last week that Robach and Holmes had become romantically involved.
While the pair have not addressed the allegations directly, they jokingly alluded to the reports during Friday’s show when Holmes sarcastically claimed it had been a “great week”.
“You know, it’s too bad it’s Friday, it’s been a great week,” he said during one segment, adding: “I just want this one to keep going and going and going. Just enjoy it, take it all in.”
The comment prompted an amused response from Robach, who replied: “Speak for yourself. I am very excited about the weekend, and I’m sure everyone else is too. We all love our Fridays around here, at least some of us do.”
The exchange came after Holmes mentioned his colleague while solo anchoring Wednesday’s segment of GMA3 . Although he did not mention speculation about a relationship between the pair, he told viewers that Robach and correspondent Jennifer Ashton were missing from the broadcast because they were “on assignment”.
The suggestions that Holmes and Robach are romantically linked surfaced last week when the DailyMail released several photos of the co-anchors. Sources told the publication that both Robach and Holmes ended their respective marriages in August. Holmes parted from wife Marilee Fiebig, while Robach and her husband of 12 years, Andrew Shue, also reportedly broke up that month.
On social media, the news that Holmes and Robach have been taken off air amid reports of their alleged romantic relationship has divided viewers. Many expressed their disagreement with the network’s decision, while others called the decision “inevitable”.
“Put TJ Holmes & Amy Robach back on the air. They’re good at their jobs. They got the job done despite being involved with one another,” one person tweeted at ABC News, while another said: “@ABC@abcnews is stupid for benching TJ Holmes and Amy Robach. If ABC agreed they didn’t violate any rules then why punish them?”
The Independent has contacted ABC News for comment.
