T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are “old news” already at ABC, we’re told — and staffers have already moved on to gossiping about who will get their newly vacated anchor chairs on “GMA3.”
We’re told multiple eyes are on the prize after the pair were formally given the boot on Friday after their affair was exposed.
“People are already moving onto the next battle, which is who is going to replace them,” explains our source.
DeMarco Morgan and Rhiannon Ally have been filling in during the scandalous stars’ suspension, and our source says, “they seem like the automatic go-to.”
But we hear other ABC talent aren’t thrilled about that possibility. “People are upset that others haven’t had as much of a chance,” says an insider.
ABC News correspondent Gio Benitez, National Correspondent Stephanie Ramos, and co-anchors of “Good Morning America: Weekend Edition” Whit Johnson and Janai Norman all filled-in during Robach and Holmes’ absence.
Both Morgan and Ally are relative newcomers. Morgan was previously at CBS before coming over to ABC in November, while Ally has worked for ABC News since December 2021, and was named co-anchor for “ABC World News Now” and “America This Morning” in August.
Earlier this month, Page Six reported on a media mixer at Plug Uglies — an Irish pub in New York’s Gramercy Park area — that was attended by Morgan, as well as “GMA3” executive producer Cat Mckenzie and local ABC News talent Sade Baderinwa and Kemberley Richardson.
Sources told us that the network “loves the job [Morgan is] doing,” and that, “everyone thinks he’s been really great.” There has been buzz he could replace Holmes permanently.
Holmes and Robach’s affair first made headlines in November 2022 and the couple was suspended from air in early December.
After the network launched an investigation into the pair, it was revealed that Holmes allegedly had romances with three other employees.
During the “extremely contentious” negotiations last week, the couple was reportedly accused of “various forms of misconduct.”
On Friday, ABC News announced that Holmes and Robach were officially out.
“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,” ABC said in a statement. “We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions.”
ABC News President Kim Godwin issued an all-staff email, calling the Holmes and Robach affair and ensuing fall-out a “distraction.”
“I know that this has been a distraction for so many of us, but let’s not forget all the great work that continues to make ABC News the #1 news network in America, and that’s because of you,” she said.
Godwin added that an announcement about who will take over their roles will come at a later time.