Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes recently disclosed a distressing blackmail scheme that targeted them weeks before their relationship became public in 2022. The couple shared these details on their podcast, describing how threats blindsided them and forced their hand.
The Blackmail Threats Unfold
“We were blindsided,” T.J. Holmes explained. “We received specific threats to expose our relationship through media channels as a form of blackmail or extortion.”
The extortionists demanded a public admission that the pair was dating. “We just weren’t ready yet,” Amy Robach added. As co-anchors on Good Morning America, they had devised a plan: finalize their divorces first, then inform ABC executives right after the Christmas break.
They emphasized they were not hiding the relationship but had not yet announced it publicly. Robach noted that her extended family, friends, and daughters were already aware of her ongoing divorce proceedings.
Unfair Narrative and Targeted Humiliation
Robach highlighted the injustice of media portrayals months later suggesting they were caught in an affair. “It was completely not true,” she stated.
“This was intentional and targeted,” Holmes asserted. “The goal was to humiliate us and potentially cost us our jobs to force certain behavior. We refused, and we lost.” Despite their stance, the blackmailer leaked vacation photos from upstate New York on November 30, 2022, igniting a media storm.
Robach clarified that no one from ABC participated in the blackmail. She speculated it came from someone intent on derailing their careers, knowing how central their roles were to their identities. “It was the one thing I knew I was good at, loved, and felt proud of,” she reflected.
Career Fallout and New Chapter
The leaked images led to a hiatus from Good Morning America on December 5, 2022. The anchors departed ABC a month later. “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,” an ABC spokesperson stated. “We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions.”
Robach and Holmes announced their engagement on their podcast in October 2025, marking a new milestone amid the challenges.
