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Opinion: Unraveling the Puzzling Saga of Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes

NY Times best-selling author Michael Arceneaux examines the scrutiny behind the former GMA anchors' lives following the public destruction of their marriages.

I may never get over Harry Daniels from TikTok singing lyrics from SZA’s “Kill Bill” to former GMA anchors TJ Holmes and Amy Robach. Still, somehow, that might be the least ridiculous thing I have heard about the couple recently.

Despite accusations of allegedly laying it low and spreading it wide at work while married to other people — one of whom includes that nice-looking man from the original Melrose Place — and all the shame and chaos at the job it wrought, these two are determined to remind us that they are a couple.

And that they love-love-LOVE each other down. 

So much so that it now seems to be part of their business model, as evidenced by their new iHeartRadio podcast, Amy & T.J. Podcast, where the two “get behind the microphone to explore meaningful conversations about current events, pop culture and everything in between.”

T.J. Holmes And Amy Robach Break Silence On Relationship One Year After ‘GMA3’ Exit

So, in theory,  a show similar to their old job duties on GMA3 before they were let go.  It’s only been two episodes, but as of now, much of the show and most of the headlines it has generated thus far have been majorly fixated on “everything in between” – namely their relationship.

In the first episode, Robach claimed they have gone through “a year of hell” as Holmes said they were "the folks who lost the jobs we love because we love each other.”

That’s probably not how HR over at ABC News would frame it. Still, I won’t dump on anyone losing their jobs in this economy, even if I may personally find it unforgivable to allegedly upset Robin Roberts with some mess. 

While they have every right to use their show to formally debut as a couple and speak on their relationship on their terms, I worry that they might be missing the point of the backlash their love has sparked.

“In the end, all of us are always rooting for love,” Robach explained. “It doesn't always happen when you want it to happen. And it's undeniable when it's real, and it's something you have to navigate. And it's not easy.”

Fair enough, I guess, but while it may be true that you can’t always control when and where you find love, aren’t there better ways to handle it in their situation?

Let’s say the two love each other very much, but must they be so visible and vocal about it?

Enter episode two of the podcast, where they gushed about “proudly” attending iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball 2023 in Los Angeles earlier this month.

“We flew out to L.A. proudly, didn’t have to duck paparazzi, walked right off that plane holding hands, it was amazing,” Robach said. “It’s funny how the smallest things feel so great and that was one of them.”

“We’re proud stepping off the plane,” Holmes added. “Take our picture!”

Again, fine, but given how their relationship was forged, wouldn’t discretion be advisable given their line of work?

Yes, the event was used as an opportunity for the two to debut as a couple on the red carpet, which, yeah, is their right, but consider how they went about it: the images from them on the carpet mirroring the paparazzi photos of the two that helped kick off the controversy in the first place. 

“We were just being us,” Robach said about the photos of Holmes feeling her up on the carpet. “Apparently that means being handsy and a lot of PDA, but you know what? We're in love. We're happy. I don’t know how else to act.” 

Clearly.

I have never actively sought out personal information about the Brad and Angelina of news, but you can’t escape these two if you tried and I don’t quite understand why either of them would court more scrutiny given the optics.

If these two are meant to be together and have decided to commit to each other, so be it, but given the scandal attached to their union, much as I can see how Amy and TJ might see themselves as being in an impossible situation, it is ultimately still one of their own making.

I don’t want to sound judgmental ‘cause I am not perfect. In fact, like them, I, too, have once lived as if I were the villain in an R&B song about trifling lovers. Still, I expected more sensitivity from them about this.

Be in love, but being all handsy on the red carpet and bragging about the PDA on a podcast monetizing the infidelity at the root of your relationship formation sounds like a misstep for people whose careers are typically tied to how the public views them. 

It comes across as bragging and throwing it in folks’ faces. 

In fairness, the two have claimed they were both undergoing divorces when they started dating and have claimed to be apologetic to their families, but isn’t all of this the opposite of what news anchors are supposed to be doing? 

They’ve gone from trusted news anchors to the couple that causes strangers to go viral for singing “I might kill my ex, not the best idea/His new girlfriend's next, how'd I get here?” 

It is far from me to play the role of an unsolicited career counselor, but I would take that as a cue from the public and switch my approach up accordingly.

Love wins or whatever, though.

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