Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ humiliating blackmailing ordeal revealed

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes got candid about being blackmailed before news broke of their relationship in 2022, with the pair revealing they were “blindsided” by the threats they received. 

The couple appeared on iHeartRadio’s An Unlikely Affair podcast on February 10 and detailed the blackmailing ordeal that went down weeks before news of their romance was leaked. 

“We were blindsided,” T.J. began. “I don’t know if we didn’t take the threat seriously, but we were threatened.” 

“We knew this was someone [who] threatened specifically to do this to us, specifically threatened to do what happened in the media as…blackmail or extortion.” 

“They wanted us to admit that we were dating, and we just weren’t ready to yet,” Amy added. “Obviously, we were co-anchors on Good Morning America. We had a conversation about it…let’s get our divorces finalized and then go.” 

“We were not hiding, but we weren’t broadcasting that we were dating and actually had a plan right after the Christmas break, we’re going to go into ABC and say, ‘Hey, just want to let you know.'” Amy added that her extended family, friends, and daughters already knew she was in the process of getting a divorce. 

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“To have it be that many months later for them to pretend or act as though they caught us having an affair was so unfair. It was completely absolutely not true,” she explained. 

Learn more about Amy and T.J.’s romance below…

“It was intentional…this was targeted,” T.J. said. “The plan was to humiliate and, possibly yes, to get us to lose our jobs. This was a part of a plan to get us to behave a certain way. We didn’t, and we lost.” The father of three recalled that the blackmailer leaked the photo anyway, sparking a media frenzy. 

While Amy clarified that no one at ABC was involved in the blackmail ordeal, she theorized that it was likely someone who wanted to ruin their careers. “[My job] was the one thing that I knew I was good at, that I loved, and I was proud of. It was my identity. And so someone who wanted to do harm knew that.” 

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Photos of Amy and T.J. on vacation in upstate New York leaked on November 30, 2022, which prompted a storm online and in the media. The pair were then placed on hiatus from GMA on December 5 and left ABC a month later. 

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“After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes about different options, we all agreed it’s best for everyone that they move on from ABC News. We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions,” an ABC spokesperson said in a statement. 

Amy and T.J. announced their engagement on their podcast in October 2025.