ABC plagued by death, scandals, and PR nightmares
It’s been a turbulent few months The Disney-owned ABC News.
In recent weeks, the news division was rocked by a string of tragic deaths and public relations nightmares. There has also been an extramarital affair. “GMA3” Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes co-host emerging as national tabloid fodder “The View” Whoopi Goldberg’s co-host doubled down on Holocaust remarks she made that had already got her suspended.
ABC News’ “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Dax Tejera, an executive producer, died suddenly last month. His widow, Veronica Tejera (child endangerment) was also charged when it became clear that the couple had left two small children in a hotel room just before his tragic death.
BARBARA WALTERS, JOURNALISTIC PIONEER, DEAD AT 93
Barbara Walters, pioneer in women’s broadcasting, passed away last month at the age of 93.
(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)
The most scandalous ABC News incident involving ABC News talent was arguably the high-profile and marriage-wrecking affair of Holmes and Robach. They co-host “GMA3,” a midday extension of the network’s flagship show “Good Morning America.”
They are being separated while an internal investigation takes place. Their infidelity continues to dominate tabloid news and industry gossip. But being pulled off the air hasn’t stopped Robach and Holmes from putting on public displays of affection, and the New York Post recently published video of them canoodling headlined, “T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach make out like teenagers on Miami vacation.”
ABC insiders initially insisted Holmes and Robach were not disciplined for their affair. However, the couple appeared to downplay it on Dec. 2, while laughing about it. “great week.” Kim Godwin, President of ABC News informed the staff the following Monday “distraction” They had grown too important, so she pulled them from the air. “while we figure this out.”
A month later, they are still not on the air. ABC News did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Before Robach was tabloid fodder for the media, Robach was probably best known as the anchor of ABC News. caught on a hot mic claiming executives at the Disney-owned network refused to air a story that would have exposed the now-deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein three years before it was reported. ABC News downplayed the significance of the video at the time, telling Fox News Digital that the Epstein story wasn’t fit to air.
“GMA3” ABC News removed TJ Holmes and Amy Robach from their co-hosting roles following revelations about their extramarital affairs.
(Paula Lobo/ABC via Getty Images
Goldberg is another reason for headaches at the Mouse House. “The View” Co-host didn’t show any remorse for the past comments that got her in trouble.
Goldberg made a viral sensation last year when she claimed that the Holocaust had been exterminated. “isn’t about race,” She stunned her fellow guests at the table. The “Sister Act” Star insisted that 6 million Jews were systematically executed was more than the number. “about man’s inhumanity to man” Since Nazis and Jews are both “White groups of people.”
Jewish activists and community members demanded Whoopi Goldenberg’s termination “The View” Following her double-down on Holocaust comments in the past, there was fierce social media outcry.
(Screenshot/ABC/TheView)
ABC News suspended Goldberg two weeks ago, but she appeared to be back in action 10 months later when she gave an interview to The Sunday Times. Goldberg also stated that Nazis targeted African-Americans in addition to Jews, due to their physical differences. Goldberg suggested that Jews could blend in better with White people and hide from the Nazis than Blacks did during the Holocaust.
“You could not tell a Jew on a street. You could find me. You couldn’t find them. That was the point I was making,” Goldberg stated. “But you would have thought that I’d taken a big old stinky dump on the table, butt naked.”
Despite her rebellion, she apologised again after her comments caused bipartisan outrage.
Dax Tejera, an ABC News producer, tragically died last month at the age of 37.
(ABC News)
Tejera, a 37-year old producer and family man, died suddenly from a heart attack. This is not a scandal. However, another ABC News-related tabloid nightmare has surfaced with news that his wife was arrested after the couple left their two children — who are five months and two years old – unattended in a New York City hotel room the night he collapsed outside a posh steakhouse.
“We had two cameras trained on my children as they slept, and I monitored them closely in the time I was away from them. While the girls were unharmed, I realize that it was a poor decision,” Tejera said the New York Post.
According to the Post, she is due at Manhattan Criminal Court on January 12.
DISNEY SELLING ABC NEWS’ LONGTIME HEADQUARTERS AS TROUBLE LOOMS FOR EMBATTLED TV STARS, JOURNALISTS
ABC News legend Barbara Walters passed away last week, amid all the drama at the network. Insiders at ABC News believe that old footage of Walters, used in tribute montages, shines a light on how the network has failed in recent years.
“Barbara Walters’ passing is a reminder that ABC News, believe it or not, was once the gold standard of TV news. Sadly, it’s now largely irrelevant and consumed by sordid scandals involving its talent. What remains now of what made ABC News great? Only Diane Sawyer, and she’s 77 and barely on the air anymore,” Fox News Digital was informed by an insider.
In 2014, ABC News dedicated its headquarters to Walters, naming the 47 West 66th Street landmark the “The Barbara Walters Building” The ceremony, which was led by Bob Iger, Disney CEO, was held in her honor. The building was sold, and it is now expected that luxury condos will be built. This is another indication of how things have changed in the past few years.
ABC News was a favorite “murderer’s row” Roone Arledge was the last to have assembled this list of top talent. Walters, Peter Jennings, David Brinkley all died. After discord with Disney in 2005, Ted Koppel was forced to leave. “Nightline’s” future. Diane Sawyer, once ABC News’ biggest star, has been largely marginalized after years of strained relations with ABC brass and the 77-year-old now contributes just a few hours of TV a year.
Although George Stephanopoulos’, David Muir’, Michael Strahan’, and Robin Roberts are well-respected in the industry they have been overshadowed recently by Robach Holmes and Goldberg.
Fox News’ Yael Halon contributed to this report.
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