Embattled GMA co-hosts and lovers Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes finally appeared to acknowledge the drama surrounding their clandestine affair on-air for the first time since the relationship was exposed.
The couple, who have remained tight-lipped since DailyMail.com earlier this week revealed the two have been secretly dating despite being married, all but confirmed their romance Friday by awkwardly laughing off the scandal as they opened the show.
Holmes, 45, welcomed viewers to the lunchtime program with a tongue-in-cheek remark alluding to the controversy, joking that it has been a ‘great week’ for the news anchor.
‘You know, it’s too bad it’s Friday. It’s been a great week,’ he said sarcastically, drawing giggles from Robach, who responded with: ‘Is it?’
‘I just want this one to keep going and going and going,’ he replied. ‘Just enjoy it. Take it all in.’
Robach shot back: ‘Speak for yourself. I’m excited about the weekend. And I’m sure everyone else is too.’
‘We all love our Fridays around here. Some of us do, at least,’ she added as they both laughed nervously.
Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes finally alluded to their secret love affair on air for the first time by awkwardly laughing off the scandal as they opened Friday’s show
The two lovers broke out in giggles during GMA3’s opening segment after Holmes, 45, joked that it has been a ‘great week’
Robach and Holmes broke out in giggles again during a health and wellness segment about using art therapy for stress relief after they joked that they were ‘taking art classes this weekend’
Earlier on Friday, after GMA3’S taping, Robach was seen in public for the first time as she moved out of the New York City home she shared with her now estranged husband Andrew Shue
The GMA host appeared in high spirits despite the controversy that has dogged the network, as she was seen smiling and being friendly for the cameras outside her apartment
In another subtle quip later in the show, both Robach and Holmes broke out in giggles again during a health and wellness segment about stress relief with fellow co-host Dr. Jennifer Ashton.
As Ashton listed the benefits of art therapy, one of which is helping lower stress, Robach replied snickering: ‘We should get an art desk.’
Holmes, laughing, then chimed in saying: ‘We are taking art classes this weekend, Dr. Ashton.’
The co-stars appear to be taking the scandal in stride as they continue to anchor the news without responding to the explosive report that has sparked a PR nightmare for ABC and disrupted the television program.
Earlier on Friday, after the show’s taping, Robach was seen moving out of the New York City home she once shared with her now estranged husband Andrew Shue, where she broke her silence on the controversy for the first time.
Robach appeared in good spirits despite the scandal, smiling and waving to the cameras before politely answering questions from DailyMail.com.
When asked if she had anything to say, Robach replied: ‘It’s been great. I’ve gotten a lot of support. And, you know, I appreciate everything, and I’m happy to be going to work,’ before getting into a black service car.
Holmes was also seen later on Friday running out of his apartment and getting into an Uber alone
Wearing a pink pea coat, black pants, and dark sunglasses, the 49-year-old smiled coyly as she headed inside her apartment
The GMA3 host was joined by three assistants and a moving crew who helped her move her belongings out of the apartment
Just outside the three-bedroom apartment unit, which Holmes was photographed traveling to and from several times last month, Robach and Shue’s name can be seen still listed on the building’s resident directory
Robach and her actor husband Andrew Shue, 55, have been married since 2010. DailyMail.com understands Shue moved out of their home in August and that the couple has consulted with a mediator. His last appearance on his wife’s Instagram account was on July 30 (left) when she posted from a holiday together in Greece
Robach’s parents were seen arriving at her posh West Village pad later on Friday to help her move
Exclusive DailyMail.com photos and video show the broadcast journalist when she arrived at her West Village apartment alone.
Wearing a pink pea coat, black pants, and dark sunglasses, the 49-year-old smiled coyly as she headed inside her apartment.
Robach’s parents were seen joining her shortly after to offer their moral support.
She arrived in a black SUV and was joined by three assistants who held the doors open for her as she stepped in and out of the home.
A moving crew was also seen carrying large boxes and bags of Robach’s belongings out of the apartment and loading them onto a truck.
Just outside the apartment unit, which Holmes was photographed traveling to and from several times last month, Robach and Shue’s name can still be seen listed on the building’s resident directory.
The estranged couple, who married in 2010, bought the three-bedroom, two-bath Barrow Street property in 2018 for $4million, according to ET.
The marital home was reportedly put on the market back in September – after Shue is said to have learned of his wife’s romance with Holmes – but only just sold for $5.2million in mid-November, right before Robach’s affair came to light.
The estranged couple, who married in 2010, bought the three-bedroom, two-bath Barrow Street property in 2018 for $4million, according to ET
The apartment was reportedly put on the market back in September – after Shue is said to have learned of his wife’s romance with Holmes
The property, however, only just sold for $5.2million in mid-November, right before Robach’s affair came to light, according to reports
A worker from the Piece of Cake moving service removes item after item from Amy Robach’s West Village home. Boxes, a table and light fittings were seen being loaded onto the truck
Moving crew moves Amy Robach’s belongings out of her West Village apartment amid affair scandal
Shue, who DailyMail.com understands learned about the affair earlier this year, moved out of the couple’s marital home in August. Holmes, who is also still married to wife Marilee Fiebig, also moved to his own place around that time.
Neither of the GMA hosts nor their estranged spouses have spoken publicly since their affair was exposed.
Earlier on Friday, DailyMail.com revealed shocked ABC insiders have called for Robach and Holmes to be fired following revelations that their on-screen chemistry and famed friendship ‘crossed the line’ into a full-blown affair.
DailyMail.com broke the story of the couple’s illicit romance exclusively on Wednesday and revealed the liaison has come at the expense of both co-host’s marriages.
Now, network insiders have called for Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of ABC’s parent company, Disney, to ‘intervene.’
One insider told DailyMail.com: ‘Disney needs to step in and take action here. We’re a family friendly network and these two are not displaying family values or Disney’s values.’
They added: ‘Bob Iger needs to intervene and terminate them both. He should also be asking Kim Godwin [President of ABC News] how this was allowed to happen on her watch.’
Godwin has not yet made any official comment about the relationship but DailyMail.com has been told that she was not aware of it.
Workers are seen moving boxes of personal items and furniture out of the apartment Amy Robach and estranged husband Andrew Shue once shared, on Friday afternoon
Robach’s parents were seen joining her at the apartment building to show their daughter moral support
When DailyMail.com first contacted ABC for comment we were told that Holmes ‘adamantly denied’ the relationship.
Only once our explosive pictures were published Wednesday did it seem to become clear to him that ‘deny, deny, deny’ was not a strategy that was going to work.
Hours later, Holmes was seen hosting GMA3 alone.
It is not known whether this was always the plan or whether the network – now scrambling to come up with a damage control strategy – hastily reshot the show. But he appeared uncomfortable and on edge.
Then on Thursday when both Holmes and Robach returned to the show together for first the time, they carried on as usual, with no discussion about Amy’s absence the day before or any mention of their affair. Neither were wearing their wedding rings.
Sources have slammed ABC and the co-hosts’ response – or lack thereof- as ‘appalling’ and a ‘hugely embarrassing’ for the network.
Another ABC insider admitted that the relationship was not a secret internally but that its public exposure had come as a shock.
They said: ‘We all knew. This was not a secret internally. We’re shocked that it has finally been made public though.’
Adding to the sense of dismay is the sadness many staff feel for Robach and Holmes’s spouses of 12 years, former Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue and attorney Marilee Fiebig.
A series exclusive DailyMail.com photos published on Wednesday revealed their intimate relationship, with the pair seen going on dates around the city and traveling to and from each other’s homes throughout the month of November
Amy Robach, 49, made an awkward return to GMA3 on Thursday taking her usual seat – between her co-star lover T.J. Holmes and correspondent Jennifer Ashton – and presenting the lunchtime program without mentioning her absence yesterday
Holmes was seen without his wedding ring for the first time on the show a day after his affair was revealed
One said: ‘Everyone loved Andrew at ABC and we felt so bad for him. He is Billy from Melrose Place for God’s sake, what the hell is Amy doing? And T.J. oh T.J. – there is so much more to his story.’
They continued: ‘We’re all hoping the ladies of The View talk about this as everyone in the network and our bureaus around the world certainly are.’
The couple’s brazen attempt to ignore the drama also took viewers by surprise on Twitter.
‘Raise your hand if you were as surprised as me to see both Amy & TJ on #GMA3 today? Amy did look uncomfortable!’ one user, Lina Russo, said in a tweet.
‘So TJ Holmes & his work bae finna act like we ain’t see what we saw yesterday??’ added another.
The scandal had reportedly also disrupted production, as sources tell DailyMail.com Holmes was expected to fill-in for host Michael Strahan for GMA’s morning show Thursday but ABC later decided against it.
Later that day on GMA3, Robach returned to the show, taking her usual seat between her co-star lover and correspondent Jennifer Ashton, before jumping straight into the broadcast without discussing her mysterious absence from the previous day.
The hosts appeared determined to show it was business as usual at the GMA studio amid the scandal, opening the show with awkward, friendly small talk in what appeared to be a contrived united front.
‘Who’s looking forward to the weekend?’ Holmes said nervously. ‘Ahhh, me!’ Robach said, prompting Holmes to reply: ‘Of course we are.’
Another ABC insider admitted that the relationship was not a secret internally but that its public exposure had come as a shock
While T.J. and Amy initially seemed determined not to be seen together by standing 20 feet apart from each other, the two eventually came together as their ride arrived and headed to his apartment
The two co-anchors, whose on-screen chemistry has captivated audiences since they joined GMA’s third hour in 2020, were seen laughing and cozying up to each other at the pub after a morning of filming on November 10
The hosts carried on like normal for the remainder of the program, with Robach and Holmes even presenting one holiday baking segment together without Ashton.
Both journalists shut down their social media accounts shortly after the bombshell story was published, but neither have commented on their entanglement.
Prior to deactivating her Instagram on Wednesday it seemed Robach had already become aware of the public speculation concerning her marriage.
The TV star restricted comments on her posts after eagle-eyed users noticed her missing wedding ring in photos as well as her absent husband, who was last featured on her profile in August.