The Biggest Scandals To Shake Good Morning America

When it comes to morning shows, 'Good Morning America' might be one of the most famous of them all. The show first broadcast in 1975 and has been running ever since, bringing millions of people across the nation their news, feel-good stories, and all the latest interviews.

Still, just because 'GMA' is supposed to give us all those positive feelings doesn't mean that things are always smooth behind the scenes. In fact, the biggest scandals to shake 'Good Morning America' go to show just how much drama can really take place.

Robin Roberts’ preferences were questioned for years until she addressed the rumors

Since 2005, Robin Roberts has been a leading face of ‘Good Morning America.’ In fact, the news anchor is now the longest-running face on the show and has become a beloved part of households across the nation. That doesn’t mean everyone is impressed by Robin, but was it really something she should be blamed for? Some disagree.

For years, people have questioned whether or not the broadcaster is a part of the LGBTQ community, rumors she never addressed. That was until 2013, when Robin thanked her long-term partner, Amber Laign, on social media for being there throughout her recent health battles. The issue? Plenty of people criticized Robin for not announcing her preferences to the world sooner.

The broadcaster claims it was all about protecting her partner’s privacy

It turns out there was a reason that Robin Roberts didn’t talk about her partner until 2013, and it wasn’t because she was trying to hide the fact she was a part of the LGBTQ community. The news anchor later spoke to Parade magazine about it all, admitting, “News flash: Some people like their anonymity.”

Robin continued to add that “Love is love,” and she knows “there’s a stigma” that can be attached to how certain people live their lives. However, the broadcaster also stated that she doesn’t care as you’ve “gotta find what happiness is and what it means to you.” Thankfully, the news eventually blew over, and the couple were left in peace.

Robin Roberts was once threatened by a stalker in 2014

Although news of her being a part of the LGBTQ community seemingly shook ‘Good Morning America’ fans, there was once a time when Robin Roberts’ private life was in danger. That moment came in 2014 when Page Six first reported that Troy Warren, a 43-year-old living in the area, was arrested after he showed up at the studios.

Apparently, Troy arrived at ‘GMA’ and told the security director in charge that Robin owed him money and that he was going to harm the anchor. In fact, it’s reported he threatened to “punch her in the face.” It’s believed Troy made eight visits to ‘Good Morning America’ between June 10 and June 24, 2014, until he was arrested.

Someone once threatened to end Michael Strahan’s life at GMA’s studios

It seems threatening ‘Good Morning America’ hosts is more common than you might think. Less than a month before Robin Roberts was threatened, a 25-year-old homeless man called Andre Johnson tried to attack fellow co-host Michael Strahan while he was at the studios. Apparently, Andre arrived and demanded to see the former NFL star but was turned away.

While that could have been the last of it, it’s reported Andre showed up later on with a knife and attempted to harm one of the security guards on duty. Thankfully, the police were called, and he was arrested before anyone was seriously injured. Plus, neither of the news anchors were harmed or bothered by their stalkers again.

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach disappeared from the internet when photos of them emerged

Like it or not, plenty of companies have things in place that prohibit workplace romances. Still, that doesn’t stop people from thinking they can sneak around - until they get caught. What happens when both of the people involved are already married and a part of one of the biggest shows in the US? That’s when things get really messy.

Thanksgiving in 2022 changed everything for ‘GMA’ stars T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach as they were snapped in New York City, getting a little too close for comfort. The photos were quickly plastered through the gossip pages, with T.J. immediately responding by deleting his social media pages. Things heated up when Amy followed suit.

Fans initially thought the pair would be back on GMA following an investigation

Just because they had been caught doing something morally questionable didn’t mean people instantly thought T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach should be kicked off of ‘Good Morning America’ - and that’s what people assumed. A source spoke to Us Weekly, where they confessed the pair would be missing from the show “until ABC completes an internal review of their relationship.”

Apparently, the network was looking at when the romance started, how it progressed, and if it was “distracting to the staff.” The source continued to explain that some people saw “their PDA behavior” outside the studios, especially as they were allegedly seen planning trips together and leaving various places as a couple. Still, most people thought nothing would change.

The pair were fired from ABC and seemingly ended their marriages

Just a month after ABC allegedly launched their investigation into T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s relationship, the network announced the pair had been let go in January 2023 for violating the morality clause outlined in their contracts. Of course, this news was about to have more of an effect than anyone imagined on the outside.

The pair were both married to separate partners at the time the news broke, and it seemed this was enough to see them both file for a divorce in order to move forward with their relationship. Amy was even spotted wearing an 18-karat gold ring on a necklace after T.J. was spotted buying the gift in NYC.

It’s said T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach had been growing close for many months

One of the main things that the investigation supposedly wanted to find out about T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach was how long they had been in a relationship before they were spotted together by the press. A source told Us Weekly that the pair “blossomed a close friendship” away from the cameras thanks to their many “work trips.”

By June 2022, the two traveled to cover Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, but that wasn’t all. The pair also spent a long time training for a half-marathon in NYC at the start of 2022. By the end of that year, a second source admitted “everyone” around the office “could tell there was a spark between them for many months.”

Sources claim Good Morning America staff all knew they were having an affair

Just because the world was surprised to learn that T.J Holmes and Amy Robach had been in a secret relationship didn’t mean that everyone else around them was as shocked to hear the news. In fact, some sources claim that people in the ‘Good Morning America’ offices knew there was something going on between the pair.

They told Us Weekly the couple were “always playful” and behaved “like two people who were dating.” Of course, T.J. and Amy were only caught when they were spotted walking around New York City. However, the source added that it could have been because it “didn’t seem like they were trying to keep their relationship secret anymore.”

Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos were allegedly disgusted by the news

Robin Roberts is currently the longest-running news anchor on ‘Good Morning America.’ However, she’s hotly followed by George Stephanopoulos, who has been with the morning show since 2009. Together, The US Sun reported they always took pride in their team’s reputation for happy marriages and strong family values. Sadly, the news of the affair saw that crumble down.

A source told The US Sun  that “George and Robin do not like this” as the entire event was “messy.” Apparently, the pair were proud they hadn’t had a scandal like ‘Today’ did with Matt Lauer, thinking all of their hosts were “committed” and “decent” people. To make matters worse, the source claimed Robin was the most hurt.

No one knew why Michael Corn was suddenly missing from Good Morning America

Michael Corn was working as a producer on ‘Good Morning America’ when suddenly, he wasn’t. Fans of the show had no idea where he had gone when Michael suddenly wasn’t there one day in 2021, and it wasn’t long before a lawsuit had been filed by a former producer and staffer also working for the network.

Kristyn Crawford claimed that Michael had been the one to create a toxic workplace environment, but that wasn’t all. She also claimed that Michael had assaulted her when they were on a work trip to Los Angeles in 2015. Here, Kristyn claimed he had tried to rub her legs and kiss her during their time away.

Another accuser came forward against Michael Corn, but the case was thrown out of court

The filing wasn’t just from Kristyn Crawford, as another woman - Jill McClain - also had things to say about Michael Corn during her time as a producer working with ABC. She wasn’t named as a plaintiff in the case, but Jill stated she had also been assaulted by Michael on not one but two separate occasions.

Sadly for the women, a judge in New York dismissed the claims in 2022, stating that the statute of limitations - set at three years - had passed. Still, Michael moved away from ABC to a cable channel called NewsNation, run by Nexstar Media Group. Here, he was named as the President of News, and Michael has denied the claims ever since.

The accusations might have caused tension between Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos

The claims against Michael Corn were one thing, but the tension they allegedly caused behind the scenes of ‘Good Morning America’ was another. It’s said that co-hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos were in a team-wide call after the lawsuit was filed in August 2021 when things got pretty heated between the two news anchors.

The Daily Beast reports Robin stated she would’ve “burned the place down” if “this happened to someone on my team.” George and Kristyn Crawford once worked closely, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Kristyn told George about what happened, and he told the executives at ABC. However, the alleged “chaotic” environment had people questioning if enough was done.

Michael Strahan alleged offensive behavior happening behind the scenes

The BLM protests saw the US stand still, and it wasn’t long before ABC - and other networks - hosted town halls. It was here Michael Strahan spoke up about what it was like working as a person of color working for shows like ‘Live with Kelly and Michael’ and ‘Good Morning America,’ not that he named any show in particular.

Michael spoke about how he has never been allowed to speak up regarding projects he’s been involved with while working for the network, with an investigation being launched just days later. Barbara Fedida was a top executive and was placed on leave when others accused her of offensive language against her staff. Eventually, the investigation saw Barbara permanently fired.

Kelly Ripa was less than pleased with Michael Strahan’s announcement to move to GMA

Before Michael Strahan was a part of ‘Good Morning America,’ he earned a major reputation for his time with ‘Live! with Kelly and Michael.’ Here, fans across the nation fell for Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, but the news of his departure from the show felt botched from start to finish, and it all started in April 2016.

Apparently, Kelly only learned the news that Michael was set to move to ‘GMA’ moments before they went live and he told the rest of the world. The host immediately took some unplanned vacation time, meaning Michael was left to make the announcement alone. Even when she returned, Kelly opened with her now famous “respect in the workplace” monologue.

The host continued to make sharp comments about Michael Strahan before he left

The weeks that followed Michael Strahan’s announcement were filled with tension between the two hosts, such as Kelly Ripa joking about contract negotiations or her bringing up his highly-public divorces, much to Michael’s discomfort. According to a source speaking to TMZ, Kelly would have been “a happy camper” if Michael left before his contract was up in September 2016.

Still, Michael forged on and continued to work through the month, ultimately leaving ‘Live!’ in May 2016. Although Kelly managed to tell her co-host, “We are so, so proud of you” on his final day, not many believed the host when she stated she would be “watching you every morning and seeing what else you achieve.”

Michael Strahan later confessed he didn’t really miss working with Kelly Ripa

Just one month after walking away from ‘Live! with Kelly and Michael,’ the former NFL star broke his silence on the matter. He spoke to Chelsea Handler in June 2016, admitting he “really [hadn’t] missed it.” Michael did say he “loved it” at the time, but “when you get a break,” you sometimes realize “I kind of needed it.”

Of course, Michael signing up to ‘Good Morning America’ was enough to spark plenty more rumors about what was going on behind the scenes of the show, with some thinking Lara Spencer was set to leave. They also claimed George Stephanopoulos would be their politics anchor, so there was room for Michael as a lead anchor.

He added that they are no longer friends following his move to GMA

It seemed as though everything had blown over between Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan a few months after he made the move to ‘GMA,’ but that might not have been the case behind the scenes. Michael spoke to People magazine in September 2016, where he confessed he was no longer friends with his former co-host.

The former athlete admitted they “were friends” at one point, but he “[didn’t] know what happened at the end.” However, Michael says he “wasn’t surprised by her reaction.” Apparently, executives at ABC were less than impressed with his interview, with sources telling Page Six, “They thought he was over it,” and it was “sort of obvious they wouldn’t be happy.”

The broadcaster had to allegedly drop several brand deals in order to work for GMA

Just because Michael Strahan was seemingly marching to his own beat when it came to how he was handling his move to ‘Good Morning America’ didn’t mean he could entirely do what he wanted. In fact, it was revealed that he could no longer work on his endorsements if he wanted to join the network.

Apparently, ABC News staffers are forbidden from making any of these deals, meaning Michael could no longer promote Metamucil, Pizza Hut, or Subway. A source also told Page Six that Michael was going to be tasked with covering more serious news and not just sports, something that reportedly left the host feeling incredibly nervous when he made the switch.

Lara Spencer was accused of having an affair with Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer was accused of assault and misconduct that rapidly saw his career with ‘Today’ take a nosedive. However, one ‘GMA’ star was caught up in it all: Lara Spencer. That’s because the National Enquirer reported Matt could have been part of the reason that Lara was getting a divorce from her husband, as they were allegedly romantically involved.

A source claimed Matt’s then-wife, Annette Roque, knew he was “flirting up a storm” with Lara, and they “became overly fast pals.” The source continued to state Annette ordered her husband at the time to stop all contact with Lara, especially when she filed for a divorce, as she had “a lot to worry about” and was on “high alert.”

Ginger Zee had to defend herself against online trolls in 2022

Ginger Zee joined ‘Good Morning America’ in 2013 and has been a huge part of the show in the last decade. However, being such a public figure means she also has to endure the downside of being in the limelight. In 2022, Ginger was forced to defend herself against online trolls who were talking about her appearance and dress sense.

Someone on social media accused Ginger of dressing “like a streetwalker,” hinting she represented a lady of the night. The meteorologist’s response? That she had been “missing these harsh disses on Twitter lately” and thanked the commenter “for the smile.” While she laughed it off, it’s not the first hate Ginger has faced since joining the show.

It wasn’t the first time people have spoken about Ginger Zee’s makeup and outfits

Plenty of people rallied behind the ‘Good Morning America’ star in 2022, but unfortunately, this isn’t the first time social media has tried to tear down Ginger Zee over her outfits and looks. In October 2020, another social media user commented that Ginger’s appearance reminded them of a lady of the night and a “bad ‘80s punk.”

Yet again, Ginger commented that she couldn’t “fire my stylist” because she was the one behind her looks, but that didn’t stop others from chiming in. In 2021, Ginger was called out for being “too skinny,” with the star stating she was “about right” for her height. Whatever the case, it seems Ginger can’t win over everyone.

There was a time when Robin Roberts was allegedly up for a role on Today

It's perhaps no secret that Robin Roberts is one of the most popular morning show hosts in the US. However, there was a time it was alleged she might have been up for one of 'Good Morning America's biggest competitors: 'Today.' Brian Stelter is the author behind the book 'Top of The Morning' where he alleges talks were in place.

NBC saw 'Today's rating fall in 2012, and it's rumored that the network thought about offering Robin Ann Curry's role to bring in more people. Brian claims the network did "a lot of research" and found "she is by far the most popular" female host of a morning show. However, nothing came of the supposed deal.

Josh Elliott was allegedly demanding a considerable pay rise before he left GMA

Plenty of news anchors have come and gone from ‘Good Morning America’ over the years, with Josh Elliott joining the show in 2011. He stayed with ABC for three years until he left, but it’s said things were far from smooth toward the end of Josh’s run. In fact, some claimed he had “major issues with women.”

It’s said that Josh’s final days with ‘GMA’ were pretty turbulent, with the anchor allegedly asking for a $7 million boost to his paycheck to stay with the network. However, the negotiations failed, and he moved to NBC Sports. While NBC might have thought ‘GMA’s ratings would fall when they lost a core member of the team, they actually rose.

Amy Robach had to apologize in 2016 for using potentially offensive language

Before her highly publicized departure from ‘Good Morning America,’ Amy Robach found herself in pretty hot water. The moment came in August 2016 when she was talking about the controversy that surrounded Zendeya getting cast to play Mary Jane in 2017’s superhero movie ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ The issue? Amy used the slur “colored people” during her discussion.

People magazine later reported that Amy immediately apologized for her “mistake,” with The Associated Press claiming Amy had intended to say “people of color” during the discussion. It’s also said the former host didn’t view what she said as “a reflection of how I feel or speak,” but many were less than impressed with her supposed slip-up.

An LGBTQ magazine criticized one of Robin Roberts’ interviews in Mississippi

The news of Robin Roberts being a part of the LGBTQ community gripped fans of ‘Good Morning America,’ but it wasn’t long after the announcement that the host found herself in hot water once more. That came in April 2016, when the star posed as the host of Mississippi’s official tourism guide, with other publications quickly speaking out.

The Advocate is an LGBTQ magazine that quickly spoke out against Robin’s decision. They claimed the state had been passing “pro-discrimination law” and allowed various individuals and businesses to refuse to work with single mothers, LGBTQ community members, and others. According to the publication, Robin was showing her hypocrisy by joining forces with and promoting the state.

The broadcaster claims she has never felt unwelcome in her home state

It wasn’t long before Robin Roberts responded to The Advocate’s claims that she was being hypocritical, stating she was from the state and was asked to be a part of the local guide “well before recent events.” The ‘Good Morning America’ continued to add that she had never had anything but positive experiences in her home state.

Robin admitted she had her partner “have always felt welcomed,” and it “hurts my soul to think of anyone not feeling welcome.” The news anchor even went as far as saying her parents raised her to “focus” on the “many things we all have in common” instead of “our few differences,” adding everyone deserves to be “treated equally.”

George Stephanopoulos once stopped a show to talk about an argument with Michael Strahan

Most of the time, drama happening behind the scenes is kept there, with plenty of shows looking to keep things looking as squeaky-clean as possible to the rest of the world. Sadly, it was inevitable that the world would learn about a dispute between George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan during one episode of ‘Good Morning America.’

The pair had both been away from the show in 2022 and only just returned when George suddenly stopped the show. They were meant to be talking about the day’s headlines, but he wanted to settle an argument he was having with Michael about the correct way to pronounce “Caribbean.” George even asked viewers to tweet in.

David Brown claimed he was Michael Strahan’s secret child

Everything stood still for Michael Strahan in 2016. As well as making the move from ‘Live!’ to ‘GMA,’ the former NFL star found himself in the middle of a huge scandal when 21-year-old David Brown claimed he was Michael’s biological son - and the anchor was refusing to acknowledge he existed. Apparently, David was adopted shortly after his birth.

However, the youngster claimed Michael and a former partner fell pregnant shortly before he married his second wife in 1999. Plenty pointed out the similarities between David and Michael, including the former athlete’s famous smile. David even told Radar Online that he wanted to follow his alleged father’s footsteps into the NFL with his own football career.

The broadcaster has previously been accused of having a wandering eye

This wasn’t the first time Michael Strahan had been accused of having a wandering eye, with his former wife Jean Muggle claiming he was unfaithful during their time together. Apparently, David Brown has long been asked about his resemblance to Michael, but he always brushed it off until his high school football coach suggested he start looking into the claims.

David admitted to Radar Online that it was only then he became obsessed with finding out the truth, as all clues pointed toward Michael being his biological father. Apparently, he was watching the NFL in 2015, and he kept hearing Michael’s name, with something inside telling him, “he’s your dad,” and he had to “Keep going. Keep looking, Keep pushing.”

There have been varied reports about what happened surrounding the DNA test

According to David Brown, he tracked down the woman he believed to be his biological mother and sent her letters, but she refused to have any contact. After allegedly contacting Michael Strahan, his parents, and the ‘Live!’ team with no results, David says he met with an NYC private detective working on Michael’s behalf. However, things didn’t work out.

David claims Michael said the only way he would have a DNA test was if they used a lab of his choosing. As he was worried, David supposedly refused, and there hasn’t been news of any further DNA talks. Now, the youngster says Michael is no longer a “role model,” and he “[changes] the channel” if he comes on.

There are rumors Ginger Zee’s husband became unbearable when she competed on DWTS

Being in the public eye meant many weren’t surprised when Ginger Zee signed up for the reality dancing competition show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2016. The issue? Sources told Radar Online that things were far from smooth during her time on the show, and it was supposedly all down to her husband, media personality Ben Aaron.

They claim he was talking to producers about how to “write and film” the videos used during Ginger's run on the show and that he thought “he should be in each video.” It’s reported things got so bad the show told Ginger to get Ben “to back off.” Apparently, the intervention worked, with Ben moving further back in the audience.

Lara Spencer was forced to apologize over a comment she made about Prince George

If there’s one family you don’t want to annoy, it’s the Royals. They are beloved around the world, and plenty want to know all they can about the secretive family, but Lara Spencer really put her foot in it during one episode of ‘Good Morning America.’ Apparently, fans of the show criticized Lara for making fun of Prince George.

The prince was just six, and they were talking about him taking ballet lessons, with Lara forced to issue an apology and admit she “screwed up” during a later episode after poking fun at the young royal. The host confessed her comments were “stupid and insensitive,” adding she’d spoken to other dancers and “learned about the bravery” young boys needed.

George Stephanopoulos has been accused of being biased in his reporting

It's perhaps no secret that George Stephanopoulos is the one who has politics covered on 'Good Morning America,' where he has long been praised for remaining impartial. That's why so many people were caught up in the whirlwind that was May 2015 when it was announced George had donated $75,000 since 2011 to certain parties.

Ultimately, the news anchor apologized not once but twice, including an on-air apology during 'GMA,' where he stated the money was to be used to help children, illnesses, and people living in poverty. Amazingly, ABC stood by George throughout it all, with the anchor adamant it wouldn't affect how he reported on any political news.

The broadcaster threatened to walk from ABC in 2021 over someone else’s promotion

Even though he has been with the network since 1999 - and ‘Good Morning America’ since 2009 - there was a time when George Stephanopoulos threatened to walk away from ABC and join a rival network. Why? That all came when David Muir stepped up to the responsibilities of the Chief Anchor despite not being given the official title.

In 2021, George was allegedly so outraged that he went to Disney’s CEO, which saw Bob Iger fly to NYC to talk things over. Apparently, George was offered the chance to work with Hulu, National Geographic, and a production company. Sadly, one of George’s supposed co-workers told the Daily Mail that George talking to Bob was “truly pathetic.”

No one knew why Rob Marciano was suddenly missing from Good Morning America

‘Good Morning America’ isn’t the only branch of the show, with ‘GMA Wake Up Call’ giving the world a chance to get up and get going before the main show. Here, meteorologist Rob Marciano earned quite a number of fans, with plenty tuning in to see everything he had to say. The issue? He was suddenly missing.

Fans began to notice in 2022 that Rob was missing from the show without explanation more and more, with plenty vocal about their disappointment when it came to the constant substitutes in his place. ABC remained pretty tight-lipped about it all, leading to even more outrage from the fans who took to social media to demand answers.

Few details have been released, but the meteorologist no longer films in Times Square

It eventually emerged that the reason Rob Marciano wasn’t on ‘GMA Wake Up Call’ was because he had been banned from the show’s studios in Times Square. No one has ever confirmed what led to the ban, but some details have emerged from ABC in the months since. Apparently, it’s largely to do with Rob’s behavior.

It’s believed the meteorologist was known to show improper behavior and had angry outbursts, with an insider saying Rob had “done something” that “was improper.” It’s reported this started when Rob started his divorce in 2021, but he was soon back on the show. However, Rob now reports from other parts of the country, nowhere near Times Square.

There are rumors Amy Robach and Lara Spencer “hate” each other

Is there ever a time we can enjoy a morning news program without a little backstage drama? Probably not. ‘Good Morning America’ is no exception, with TMZ reporting Amy Robach and Lara Spencer “hate” each other and “[couldn’t] hide their contempt” when they had to work together on the show. That was just the beginning of the accusations.

TMZ also reported the vice president of ABC News called Amy “toxic” as she allegedly created tension on the set. Both of the news anchors denied their feud, but it did little to stop people talking. Radar Online later reported Amy supposedly hated Lara because she “shamelessly flirts” and abandoned her during her fight with breast cancer.

The alleged feud supposedly hinted that Robin Roberts might be a “diva”

Even though Robin Roberts is beloved across the nation, others might not have the same things to say about the star. Reports emerged in 2014 that ABC had allegedly buried documents that Lara Spencer had been promoted to co-host to avoid upsetting Robin, but the promotion itself might have been trying to keep the peace.

A source spoke to TMZ, where they confused Lara was allegedly promoted to keep her happy after Amy Robach was promoted a few weeks earlier. The source also claimed that they didn’t want Robin finding out, as she could allegedly “be quite a diva,” and the show “didn’t want to ruffle her feathers” and cause even more issues.

Sources claimed Michael Straham opted to stay on vacation instead of cover Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey devastated much of the US in 2017 as it tore through the nation for weeks. It caused an estimated $125 billion in damages and tore through large parts of Texas, aka Michael Strahan’s home state. While the hurricane was devastating enough, things got worse when Page Six reported Michael annoyed ABC News surrounding the disaster.

A source told the publication Michael was asked to return from his vacation. But he refused, and it left ABC “really upset with him.” Another source claimed the show “cannot believe he didn’t come back.” However, a senior executive producer for ‘GMA’ admitted Michael wanted to be a part of the coverage and was back by September 5, 2017.