NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: (L-R) Candi Carter, Jane Francisco, Don Lemon, and T.J. Holmes attend The Hollywood Reporter Most Powerful People In Media Presented By A&E at The Pool on May 17, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter)
CNN’s Don Lemon said he wants T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach to return on-air for “Good Morning America” after the co-hosts were taken off-air for their secret alleged workplace affair, and said he wants to see Holmes so he can give him a hug.
The Daily Mail reports that Lemon, host of “CNN This Morning,” told the outlet that viewers should refrain from judging the two until all the facts of the situation emerge.
Holmes and Roach were both taken off-air by executives at ABC earlier this week, amidst their ongoing alleged workplace affair scandal that has rocked the network since news broke of the tryst late last month.
During an internal call on Monday, ABC News President Kim Godwin announced that the duo would no longer host their daily 1 p.m. time slot, The Shade Room reported earlier this week.
Lemon was asked at the RFK Human Rights Awards Ceremony on Tuesday if he believed the two anchors should be reinstated, to which the CNN host said he hoped he could see Holmes in person “so I can give him a hug.”
“I hope so and I hope I see him in person so I can give him a hug,” he said. “I love them and I wish them the very best ‘and I think we should offer people grace in these situations until we actually know what the facts are.”
Meanwhile, Stephanie Ramos and Gio Benitez will host “GMA3” in their place, as more internal meetings take place at the network regarding how to handle the scandal.
ABC News’ President Kim Godwin made the announcement during an internal call Monday morning, calling the romance an “internal and external distraction.”
“After a lot of thought I am taking Amy and T.J. off the air as we figure this out,” she said.
She added that although their alleged affair was “not a violation of company policy,” removing them from their anchor seats was necessary for the “GMA” brand.
The news of Holmes and Robach being relieved of on-air duties comes just days after sources told TMZ that there’d be no disciplinary action taken over the couple’s consensual relationship.
Despite reports that Amy and Andrew have divorced, DailyMail.com has learned the couple has consulted with a mediator.
Inside sources at “GMA” also say staff have been angered and dismayed by the way the affair has disrupted the newsroom.
ABC insiders were initially shocked to see the couple continue to work on air, telling DailyMail.com last week that “we’re a family friendly network” and that “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.”
To read more on the scandal, click here.
