“GMA” host George Stephanopoulos has been “miserable” after being compelled to apologize following the President Trump fiasco — and staffers are already speculating about who would possibly exchange him, The Publish has realized
Stephanopoulos has been rumored to be on his approach out, in accordance with a number of community sources, since ABC Information guardian Disney agreed to settle a defamation go well with in December over the anchor insisting on-air that Trump was “found liable for rape” — as an alternative of sexual abuse — in a lawsuit by journalist E. Jean Carroll.
As a part of Disney’s cope with Trump, the previous Democratic operative — who co-hosts “GMA” with Roberts and Michael Strahan — was compelled to problem an apology.
The entire episode has turned out to be “emasculating” for the “This Week” host, who has remoted himself much more than standard for the reason that settlement, a supply with data informed The Publish.
“George seems miserable,” the supply mentioned, musing that the community might wait to tug the plug on him this summer season when issues are “dead” or later within the yr.
“He’s definitely gone,” the insider predicted. “He’s a dead man walking for sure.”
A number of sources added that he might stay on the community in a decrease profile approach, probably engaged on movie and TV tasks.
However one other supply near the community shot down discuss that Stephanopoulos is depressing at “GMA.”
“This is nonsense, anyone watching ‘GMA’ can see he’s engaged, all-in, and as committed as ever.” the supply mentioned, including, “He’s happy to be here.”
A rep for Stephanopoulos didn’t remark.
The community is at the moment shelling out round $75 million yearly for Roberts, Strahan and Stephanopoulos, a large sum contemplating TV audiences are shrinking and the significance of morning exhibits has waned.
Roberts might flex her important affect on the community ought to an anchor seat open up. She is anticipated to push good pal and “GMA” weekend anchor Gio Benitez for the position, a number of sources who work on the community informed The Publish.
“Robin calls the shots at GMA,” one ABC Information supply mentioned.
Benitez just lately posted a photograph to his Instagram account that confirmed him and his husband smiling alongside Roberts and her partner, Amber Laign, as they attended a film premiere about singer Gloria Gaynor. Roberts is an govt producer of the biopic.
The caption beneath the selfie of the chummy foursome learn: ”To see @gloriagaynor carry out her mega hit LIVE is admittedly one thing. What an evening celebrating the brand new movie govt produced by the one-and-only @robinrobertsgma, “I WILL SURVIVE: The Gloria Gaynor Story,” airing Saturday, Feb. eighth on @lifetimetv.”
“Everybody thinks Gio could be the new George,” mentioned one other supply near the scenario.
“He’s in with the in crowd.”
One other identify that has surfaced is Will Reeve — the hunky ABC Information correspondent and son of the late “Superman” star Christopher Reeve.
“If you could put Superman on ‘GMA’ wouldn’t you?” the second supply mentioned.
NBC’s Willie Geist, who hosts “Sunday Today,” has additionally been swept within the rumor mill.
One of many insiders added that ABC might additionally decide to simply keep on with Roberts and Strahan – and faucet “more of a newsreader” sort with a modest wage to fill out the morning workforce.
An ABC Information rep declined to remark.
Disney just lately re-upped Stephanopoulos’ contract, however that is probably not an obstacle to shifting him out of “GMA.”
“It’s the Disney way,” mentioned a longtime former Disney exec. “They re-sign your contract then they move you out.”
“GMA,” the perennial mornings rankings champion, has been in a hunch, trailing NBC’s “Today” in viewership for the reason that fall.
Within the final week of January, “NBC “Today” — which just lately named Craig Melvin as co-host alongside Savannah Gurthie following Hoda Kotb’s exit — reeled in 2.7 million complete viewers and 705,000 in the important thing 25-to-54 demo. “GMA” drew 2.66 million viewers and 459,000 within the demo throughout the identical interval.
