Recent layoffs at ABC have stirred significant unrest among employees, with many feeling that the cuts have disproportionately affected lower-earning staff,
while high-profile stars like Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, and George Stephanopoulos continue to rake in multimillion-dollar salaries.
Insiders have reported widespread dissatisfaction, particularly with the network’s handling of these layoffs, which have hit the most vulnerable employees the hardest.
The growing resentment stems from the perceived disparity between the large salaries of ABC’s top anchors and the layoffs
that have impacted staff members who are making far less.
As one insider explained, employees earning between $100,000 and $150,000 per year are losing their jobs,
while stars like Robin Roberts—who is reportedly making $20 million annually—Michael Strahan, with a salary of $17 million, and George Stephanopoulos, who commands a $18 million salary, remain firmly in their positions.
The source continued, “People think it’s just not fair. Why should the highest-paid employees continue to be well-compensated while those who are earning much less are being let go?” The frustration is palpable, with many feeling that the layoffs should have been more equitably distributed or that the high earners could have taken a pay cut instead.
George Stephanopoulos’ Contract and Controversy
One key figure in this controversy is George Stephanopoulos, whose contract was reportedly renewed in late 2024, despite ongoing tensions surrounding ABC’s coverage of President Donald Trump. This includes a lawsuit stemming from Stephanopoulos’ erroneous statement that Trump had been found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. Although Trump was ultimately found liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, the incident caused significant backlash, and many wondered why Stephanopoulos remained with the network after such a misstep.
For some, this move exemplifies the broader issue of preferential treatment for top talent, even when their actions may not align with the network’s best interests. The decision to keep Stephanopoulos in place amid such a controversial situation has only intensified the perception that the top earners at ABC are immune to the cuts that have severely impacted others.
The Future of Mega-Salaries in the News Industry
The layoffs at ABC are not isolated to just Good Morning America (GMA) or GMA3, which has faced major staff reductions. In fact, the recent cuts have affected numerous programs across ABC’s news division. These layoffs are viewed as part of a larger trend in the news industry, where the days of mega-multi-million-dollar contracts for anchors and talent may be coming to an end. According to an industry insider, “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.”
As media companies face financial challenges and adjust to shifting viewer habits, the notion that high salaries for news anchors are sustainable in the long term is increasingly questioned. The perception that high-profile anchors continue to earn significant sums while the staff who support them face job losses has only added fuel to the fire.
GMA3’s Disastrous Fallout
The GMA3 show has been particularly affected by these changes. Insiders have suggested that the departure of co-hosts Amy Robach and TJ Holmes, whose on-air chemistry was once a major draw for viewers, has had a lasting impact on the program. The show’s subsequent inability to replicate their dynamic has been cited as one of the reasons for its decline in ratings. Many displaced employees have pointed fingers at Robach and Holmes, blaming them for contributing to the “nightmare” of layoffs.
A source close to the situation explained, “Amy and TJ got let go for being selfish two years ago, and now the rest of us are being fired in the fallout. They’ve ruined it for everyone else, and now the whole staff is gone.” The bitterness among former staff members is clear, as they feel that the departure of these two anchors set off a chain reaction of decisions that ultimately led to job cuts across the board.
Changing Work Environment at ABC
The frustration over the layoffs extends beyond just salaries and contracts; it is also reflected in the changing work environment at ABC. With the network’s relocation to a new downtown headquarters, the office setup has undergone a drastic transformation. Employees no longer have assigned desks, and personal items such as family photos are a thing of the past. Instead, workers now share desks, and lockers are used to store personal belongings. The shift has created a less personalized and more transactional atmosphere, signaling a major change in the company’s corporate culture.
These changes reflect broader trends in the media industry, where many companies are adjusting to financial pressures by reducing overhead costs and rethinking how they operate. However, the fallout from these decisions is being felt by many of ABC’s employees, who feel that the network’s priorities are misplaced, with top talent remaining untouched while the staff that supports them faces cuts.
As ABC navigates these difficult decisions, the sense of unfairness among its employees continues to grow. The network will need to address these concerns if it hopes to maintain employee morale and avoid further dissatisfaction in the future.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
