EXCLUSIVE: GIO BENITEZ GUNNING FOR GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS' JOB AFTER ABC TRUMP SCANDAL
Power Play for 'Good Morning America' Throne!
It’s war at ABC’s Good Morning America, and all eyes are on hunky correspondent Gio Benitez, who insiders say is eyeing George Stephanopoulos’ coveted chair.
The fallout comes in the wake of ABC’s public apology and $15 million settlement with Donald Trump, following incendiary remarks from the embattled Stephanopoulos.
“Gio sees the opportunity and is ready to jump,” a well-placed source close to the situation told us exclusively.
The ambitious Benitez, already a fan favorite on GMA, is using his close ties to Robin Roberts, the reigning queen of the morning show, to position himself as the frontrunner.
“He’s very close with Robin, and he’s part of what’s called ‘the gay mafia’ inside ABC,” another insider dished. “The group has a lot of influence over what happens behind the scenes.”
Roberts, a beloved veteran anchor and major power player at the network, holds the deciding vote if Stephanopoulos is ousted.
“Robin is the boss. She will ultimately decide who sits next to her if George is pushed out,” an ABC staffer revealed.
The scandal has left many questioning whether Stephanopoulos, long considered the face of GMA, can survive the backlash.
“The Trump settlement is a black eye for the network,” says a media analyst. “It is clear ABC is evaluating all options.”
As for Benitez, he’s keeping mum on the speculation, but one thing is certain: the battle for GMA’s anchor chair is heating up, and all bets are off.
