“GMA” host George Stephanopoulos has been “miserable” after being forced to apologize following the President Trump fiasco — and staffers are already speculating about who might replace him, The Post has learned
Stephanopoulos has been rumored to be on his way out, according to multiple network sources, since ABC News parent Disney agreed to settle a defamation suit in December over the anchor insisting on-air that Trump was “found liable for rape” — instead of sexual abuse — in a lawsuit by journalist E. Jean Carroll.
As part of Disney’s deal with Trump, the former Democratic operative — who co-hosts “GMA” with Roberts and Michael Strahan — was forced to issue an apology.
The whole episode has turned out to be “emasculating” for the “This Week” host, who has isolated himself even more than usual since the settlement, a source with knowledge told The Post.
“George seems miserable,” the source said, musing that the network could wait to pull the plug on him this summer when things are “dead” or later in the year.
“He’s definitely gone,” the insider predicted. “He’s a dead man walking for sure.”
Multiple sources added that he could remain at the network in a lower profile way, possibly working on film and TV projects.
But another source close to the network shot down talk that Stephanopoulos is miserable at “GMA.”
“This is nonsense, anyone watching ‘GMA’ can see he’s engaged, all-in, and as committed as ever.” the source said, adding, “He’s happy to be here.”
A rep for Stephanopoulos did not comment.
The network is currently shelling out around $75 million annually for Roberts, Strahan and Stephanopoulos, a massive sum considering TV audiences are shrinking and the importance of morning shows has waned.
Roberts could flex her significant influence at the network should an anchor seat open up. She is expected to push good pal and “GMA” weekend anchor Gio Benitez for the role, multiple sources who work at the network told The Post.
“Robin calls the shots at GMA,” one ABC News source said.
Benitez recently posted a photo to his Instagram account that showed him and his husband smiling alongside Roberts and her spouse, Amber Laign, as they attended a movie premiere about singer Gloria Gaynor. Roberts is an executive producer of the biopic.
The caption beneath the selfie of the chummy foursome read: ”To see @gloriagaynor perform her mega hit LIVE is really something. What a night celebrating the new film executive produced by the one-and-only @robinrobertsgma, “I WILL SURVIVE: The Gloria Gaynor Story,” airing Saturday, Feb. 8th on @lifetimetv.”
“Everybody thinks Gio could be the new George,” said another source close to the situation.
“He’s in with the in crowd.”
Another name that has surfaced is Will Reeve — the hunky ABC News correspondent and son of the late “Superman” star Christopher Reeve.
“If you could put Superman on ‘GMA’ wouldn’t you?” the second source said.
NBC’s Willie Geist, who hosts “Sunday Today,” has also been swept in the rumor mill.
One of the insiders added that ABC could also opt to just stick with Roberts and Strahan – and tap “more of a newsreader” type with a modest salary to fill out the morning team.
An ABC News rep declined to comment.
Disney recently re-upped Stephanopoulos’ contract, but that may not be an impediment to moving him out of “GMA.”
“It’s the Disney way,” said a longtime former Disney exec. “They re-sign your contract then they move you out.”
“GMA,” the perennial mornings ratings champion, has been in a slump, trailing NBC’s “Today” in viewership since the fall.
In the last week of January, “NBC “Today” — which recently named Craig Melvin as co-host alongside Savannah Gurthie following Hoda Kotb’s exit — reeled in 2.7 million total viewers and 705,000 in the key 25-to-54 demo. “GMA” drew 2.66 million viewers and 459,000 in the demo during the same period.
Credit: Source link
