Public scrutiny of Amy Robach & TJ Holmes will ‘drive a wedge’ and ‘resentment’ could break them up, expert reveals
IT was brought to public attention on December 1 that married GMA3 co-anchors TJ Holmes and Amy Robach were having an affair.
In an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun, psychologist and relationship expert Jo Hemmings weighed in on how the scandal could impact their individual careers and connection going forward.
TJ Holmes, 45, and Amy Robach, 49, have been hosts on the Good Morning America spinoff talk show GMA3 since 2020 and were revealed to be in a relationship last Thursday after questionable paparazzi photos of the two came to light.
Holmes and Robach are both married to other people, but a representative for the two said they had both separated from their spouses and only began their high-profile relationship recently.
Amidst the allegations, the pair still appeared on the air, but during an editorial call on December 5, ABC News president Kim Godwin announced that Holmes and Robach would temporarily be pulled from GMA3, calling their romance “an internal and an external distraction.”
In an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun, Behavioral & Media Psychologist and Relationship Coach Jo Hemmings weighed in on how the public humiliation and loss of their jobs might affect them as a couple.
Hemmings said that successfully navigating the relationship is “undoubtedly a challenge and will seriously test the commitment that they have for each other.”
The psychologist shared that talk show co-anchors are often referred to as being in a “TV marriage”, which makes sense when two attractive people, who work the same hours, spend hours presenting and rehearsing together, while in close proximity and away from their partners.
“That authentic connection that keeps viewers tuned in can also easily turn into a more significant and intimate relationship,” she declared.
Many people are wondering if Amy Robach and TJ Holmes’ romance will implode under the pressure of public scrutiny or if will it result in them clinging to each other and strengthening their bond.
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According to the expert, it really depends on three key factors, beginning with the strength of their bond and how serious they are about each other.
“It would appear that they were both separated and didn’t want to announce their relationship until their divorces were formalized, so one would imagine that they are a strong couple and will find some solace in comforting each other,” she explained.
Secondly, it will depend on how significant their career is, in comparison to their romantic connection.
“This is complex because if they are not on the same page and one is more career driven than the other, this could cause issues of regret and resentment that could break them up,” Hemmings shared.
Lastly, the journalists may have been taken off the air indefinitely, but the dating expert stated this could simply be a move to buy time and figure out the future of GMA3.
Hemmings suggested that Holmes and Robach might believe that they will be reinstated once the press scrutiny dies down, or “the viewing public may find in their favor and want them to come back.”
“If people prove sympathetic – or move away from GMA3 to other shows – this might force the network’s hand to reinstate them,” she explained. “Alternatively, they may get bigger and better offers from other shows or networks.”
The relationship coach added that if the public tide of opinion works against them or press scrutiny continues in an unfavorable way, this is more likely to drive a wedge through their relationship.
“They will wonder if they have simply allowed themselves to give up too much professionally in the process of being together personally,” she claimed.
If you find yourself falling for someone at work, it’s no secret that things can become messy in a hurry, just like Robach and Holmes.
Having a crush on one of your colleagues is much more common than you may think, and Hemmings explained why she thought the television duo became attracted to each other in the first place.
She claimed that warmth, affection, and mutual respect for each other are key to attracting viewers because “no one wants to watch co-anchors that clearly can’t stand each other.”
“So his comfort and ease with each other, probably often using each other as a confidante in their relationship issues, as they know their co-host is likely to understand, can so easily spill into an after-hours relationship with all the associated risks,” Hemmings added.
In short, the stress, scrutiny, and threat to their prominent hosting careers are factors that could contribute to breaking the former co-anchors apart.
On the other hand, their genuine connection through their work could be key to salvaging their romance.
