T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach Regret Staying 'Silent for a Year' After Their Relationship Was Exposed: We Had 'a Reputation to Defend'

Mar. 15, 2025

Amy Robach and TJ Holmes selfie at the 2024 iHeart Music Awards.Photo:Amy Robach/Instagram

Amy Robach/Instagram

There are thingsAmy RobachandT.J. Holmeswould do differently when it comes to how they handledtheir relationship going public.The formerGMA3co-anchors made headlines in November 2022 when it was confirmed thatthey were in a relationship, despite both seeming to still be with their respective spouses. It wasn’t for a full year that Robach, 51, and Holmes, 47, shared the true story of how things went down — anddenied the cheating rumors, revealing they were both in the process of divorce— whenthey launched their joint podcast.Looking back, Robach said that they “absolutely felt like we had a record to correct” when they launched the podcast in December 2023.“We stayed silent for a year, and, unfortunately, what happened with that is other people spoke for us,” she said onJana Kramer’s podcast,Whine Down, on Feb. 3.She and Holmes also had “a reputation to defend, without a doubt,” she said.T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach attend the Boston Celtics v New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 24, 2024.Michael Simon/ShutterstockHolmes admitted that the couple “should have done it earlier though,” referring to them telling their side of the story.“That’s the only thing. [We] should’ve done it immediately, but we weren’t as media savvy as we are now.“Speaking to the timeline of events, Robach added, “They outed our relationship. They didn’t out an affair. They didn’t out cheating. They outed a relationship that, yes, we wanted to keep private until our divorces were finalized. But we were well into the process of our divorce and we thought we had a right or at least an option to have a few months of privacy while we were putting all of our affairs in order.“Holmes pointed out the “pun” in Robach using the expression, and she clarified they were “getting our divorces in order,” rather.“But when someone almost tells your story for you, it’s really hard to untell it and tell it correctly,” she said. “Because people only heard what they were told initially, and all the pictures that they put up as proof to sell their story all stuck in people’s heads.“Sabine Holmes, T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach, and Annalise Mcintosh attend iHeartRadio z100’s Jingle Ball 2024.Marleen Moise/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Last month, Robach and Holmes reflected on the pressure they’ve felt on their relationship given how it was publicized and handled in the media.Calling it “tough,“Robach admitted that the “public pressure” is “getting so much better” nowthat she and Holmes are over two years into their relationship.“The first year was really hard,” she continued. “I don’t feel it as much now as I did a year ago, for sure. And it does add to stress levels because you feel like you’re being watched. You feel like you’re being talked about. There’s pressure associated with that, without a doubt.”

There are thingsAmy RobachandT.J. Holmeswould do differently when it comes to how they handledtheir relationship going public.

The formerGMA3co-anchors made headlines in November 2022 when it was confirmed thatthey were in a relationship, despite both seeming to still be with their respective spouses. It wasn’t for a full year that Robach, 51, and Holmes, 47, shared the true story of how things went down — anddenied the cheating rumors, revealing they were both in the process of divorce— whenthey launched their joint podcast.

Looking back, Robach said that they “absolutely felt like we had a record to correct” when they launched the podcast in December 2023.

“We stayed silent for a year, and, unfortunately, what happened with that is other people spoke for us,” she said onJana Kramer’s podcast,Whine Down, on Feb. 3.

She and Holmes also had “a reputation to defend, without a doubt,” she said.

T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach attend the Boston Celtics v New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 24, 2024.Michael Simon/Shutterstock

Michael Simon/Shutterstock

Holmes admitted that the couple “should have done it earlier though,” referring to them telling their side of the story.

“That’s the only thing. [We] should’ve done it immediately, but we weren’t as media savvy as we are now.”

Speaking to the timeline of events, Robach added, “They outed our relationship. They didn’t out an affair. They didn’t out cheating. They outed a relationship that, yes, we wanted to keep private until our divorces were finalized. But we were well into the process of our divorce and we thought we had a right or at least an option to have a few months of privacy while we were putting all of our affairs in order.”

Holmes pointed out the “pun” in Robach using the expression, and she clarified they were “getting our divorces in order,” rather.

“But when someone almost tells your story for you, it’s really hard to untell it and tell it correctly,” she said. “Because people only heard what they were told initially, and all the pictures that they put up as proof to sell their story all stuck in people’s heads.”

Sabine Holmes, T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach, and Annalise Mcintosh attend iHeartRadio z100’s Jingle Ball 2024.Marleen Moise/WireImage

Marleen Moise/WireImage

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Last month, Robach and Holmes reflected on the pressure they’ve felt on their relationship given how it was publicized and handled in the media.

Calling it “tough,“Robach admitted that the “public pressure” is “getting so much better” nowthat she and Holmes are over two years into their relationship.

“The first year was really hard,” she continued. “I don’t feel it as much now as I did a year ago, for sure. And it does add to stress levels because you feel like you’re being watched. You feel like you’re being talked about. There’s pressure associated with that, without a doubt.”

source: people.com