Amy Robach’s ‘Inner Circle’ Believe Lara Spencer Pushed for Her and T.J. Holmes’ Break From ‘Good Morning America’

Amy Robach Believes Lara Spencer Pushed for Her and T.J. Holmes' Break From 'Good Morning America' 660 'Good Morning America' TV show, New York, America - 25 Sep 2015
Amy Robach, Lara Spencer. Mediapunch/Shutterstock
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Drama behind the scenes? Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes were temporarily benched from GMA3 — and an insider exclusively tells Us Weekly that Robach's inner circle think her coworker Lara Spencer is behind the removal.

"The bosses were thrilled and giddy with the ratings on Friday, but now Amy and T.J. are suddenly off the show," the source claims. "It's not a delayed reaction — something happened and [people close to] Amy are blaming Lara.”

A separate source close to Spencer completely denies the host had involvement. “Lara doesn’t have the power or influence to remove Amy or T.J. off air in any way. The decision was made by ABC bosses to calm internal and external distraction the situation has caused."

Robach, 49, and Holmes, 45, made headlines on Wednesday, November 30, when the Daily Mail published photographs of the duo — who are both married to other people — getting close during several outings together. While the pair returned to host GMA3: What You Need to Know for the rest of the week, Us confirmed on Monday, December 5, that they won't be back for the foreseeable future.

According to the source, the tension dates back to late 2012, when Robin Roberts took a break from GMA while recovering from a bone marrow transplant.

"Lara was livid that Amy was seen by bosses as Robin's heir-apparent," the insider tells Us. "It was clear that Amy would be the one to step in. Lara wanted the gig and hasn't ever forgotten it."

Amy Robach Believes Lara Spencer Pushed for Her and T.J. Holmes' Break From 'Good Morning America' 661 'Good Morning America' TV show, New York, USA - 15 Jul 2019
Lara Spencer, Amy Robach. MediaPunch/Shutterstock

However, a third source insists Spencer has been one of the more caring colleagues since the scandal broke. “People have their own idea of what’s going on behind-the-scenes. Lara is supporting Amy,” the source says.

Robach joined GMA as a correspondent in 2012 before being promoted to coanchor in March 2014. One month later, Spencer was promoted to cohost of GMA along with Roberts, 62, and George Stephanopoulos.

"A key member of our on-air team, Lara Spencer, rejoined ABC three years ago — bringing her style, humor, sunny confidence, wonderful journalism and storytelling to GMA," read an April 2014 memo sent by James Goldston, then-president of ABC News. "Lara is clearly an essential ingredient in the success we have enjoyed and I am so pleased to announce that Lara has been elevated to cohost of the program along with Robin and George."

At the time, TMZ reported that there was tension between Robach and Spencer on set, but the duo denied feud speculation during a lunch date in New York City. "I know it's not as sexy as the other story line, but we've been friends for a really long time," Spencer told the outlet in April 2014. "I think if you look back or you're a viewer and you watch the show, it's just simply not true."

While Holmes and Robach are off the air, ABC News journalists Stephanie Ramos and Gio Benitez will be filling in for them. During the Monday episode, Ramos, 40, said that her colleagues "have the day off."