Tensions are rising at ABC's "Good Morning America" as staff grapple with layoffs and the high earnings of their top anchors.
According to the US Sun, Employees are particularly frustrated by the salary disparities between high-paid hosts and their lower-paid colleagues who have been let go.
The controversy centers around Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, and George Stephanopoulos, who continue to draw substantial annual salaries — $20 million, $17 million, and $18 million, respectively. These figures starkly contrast with the earnings of the colleagues who have been recently laid off, typically making between $100,000 and $150,000.
An insider expressed discontent, stating that "there is a lot of resentment that all these employees are losing their jobs making $100,000 or $150,000 a year, but Robin is making $20 million, Michael is making $17 million and George, who gets sued for $15 million, still gets his $18 million salary."
This unrest has led some staff members to suggest that perhaps the top earners should take pay cuts to preserve the jobs of their lesser-paid colleagues. This sentiment stems from the recent wave of layoffs that primarily affected the network's lowest earners.
"The people at the bottom are getting hit the worst, it might seem illogical but people think maybe the big talent should take the pay cut instead," remarked another anonymous insider about the ongoing financial strategy at ABC.
The layoffs have been particularly harsh on the afternoon segment, GMA3, which suffered the largest wave of job cuts, especially after the departure of popular co-hosts Amy Robach and TJ Holmes. Workers attribute part of the layoffs to the lack of on-air chemistry following their exit.
An insider directly blamed the former co-hosts, saying, "Staff held Amy and TJ responsible for being selfish and ruining the show when they were let go. The network has never hired anyone with the same level of charisma that TJ and Amy had, which kept viewers tuning in to watch them together."
Interviews revealed widespread resentment toward Robach and Holmes for their perceived role in destabilizing the show. One staff member bitterly remarked, "The network fired Amy and TJ for being selfish two years ago, and now the rest of us are losing our jobs because of the fallout."
Complicating matters further, George Stephanopoulos renewed his contract in late 2024 amid legal turmoil over false statements he made about Donald Trump, which led to a lawsuit. Although Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos for defamation, the court found Trump liable not for rape, as George claimed, but for sexual abuse and defamation. The case eventually reached a settlement.
ABC recently relocated to new downtown headquarters, introducing both logistical changes and a new office layout with shared desks and lockers instead of personalized workspaces. The network's leadership views this move as part of a broader effort to cut costs, especially as extravagant anchor salaries appear to be fading.
An industry insider highlighted the shift in media salaries, stating, "Little by little, this is all going away. These bigger salaries are all going away. George was recently renewed, but the news industry just can't keep supporting these salaries anymore."
Another insider bluntly described the frustration over lavish payouts amid widespread layoffs, saying, "It is a complete s***show at the network's studios in New York City."
With an evident divide between the compensation of its top stars and those less fortunate, ABC faces not only a financial dilemma but a moral one, as sentiments of injustice and disparity brew amongst its ranks. The coming months may well dictate the future not just of prominent faces like Roberts, Strahan, and Stephanopoulos, but of the entire crew that supports them daily.
