TJ Holmes was beaming widely as he clutched two cellphones to his ear in Manhattan on Friday – the day after his affair with a 24-year-old intern was revealed.
Holmes, whose future on Good Morning America hangs in the balance following news of his relationship with co-host Amy Robach, smiled as he strolled the streets.
Wearing an Atlanta Braves cap, he clutched a phone to his ear and held a second in the palm of his hand.
Holmes is currently in the midst of a firestorm as his wife of 12 years divorced amid the revelations.
TJ Holmes didn’t seem to care about the world as he strolled the streets of Manhattan on Friday
The 45-year-old Arkansas-born presenter faced a barrage of revelations about his private life
Father-of-three Holmes was wrapped up against the wintry New York weather in a hoodie and overcoat, complete with jogging bottoms and eye-catching trainers
He seemed in good spirits, despite the drama he finds himself in
Holmes beamed and waved to waiting photographers in Manhattan on Friday
DailyMail.com broke the news of Holmes’ affair with married GMA3 co-host Amy Robach, 49, last November
DailyMail.com has been informed that attempts to raise concerns about Holmes’ ‘behavioral issues’ – which included drinking in his office and before going on air – have been rebuffed by at least one producer executive who ‘didn’t want to know’ when told star was ‘a huge liability’
A well-placed source told DailyMail.com on Thursday about his affair with then 24-year-old Jasmin Pettaway.
The affair took place in 2015, when Holmes had been married to his now estranged wife, Marilee Fiebig, for five years.
The source, who knew Pettaway well at the time, said: “He was a predator who took full advantage of his position and he was reckless.”
“It was Jasmin’s first real job on television, and it was a big deal for her.
“She was looking for a mentor and she contacted several people.
“TJ was someone who was reactive, but he absolutely abused the position of trust.”
Jasmin Pettaway (pictured) was 24 at the time of the 2015 affair, with the sexual relationship leaving the young employee ‘confused’
Pettaway (pictured) and Holmes’ sexual relationship lasted several months and included him visiting her flat before, the source said, ‘it fell apart’
TJ Holmes had an affair with ABC script coordinator Jasmin Pettaway (right) who asked her for help as she settled into her new job. She was 24 at the time and Holmes is 13 years her senior
At the time, Pettaway and Holmes, who joined the ABC News team in September 2014, were often on the same shifts.
The source said: “Holmes was a drinker and he and Jasmin started doing it. You have to remember that he was a correspondent at the time and he takes the time to talk to her about work or whatever.
“I don’t know how long it was before it turned sexual, but I know the first time was in his office, and he was about to go on the air in a few hours.”
The source said Pettaway later told them that Holmes called her into his office – where she saw he was drinking alcohol.
“There’s like a change of atmosphere, almost an expectation that something is going to happen, and it happened.
“They had sex and I know she was confused afterwards as to what that meant. This kind of “Did it really happen?” feeling. I mean, that’s pretty risky behavior on his part.
According to the source, it was part of a pattern of “incredibly reckless” conduct on Holmes’ part. On one occasion, the source said the pair were having a drink together when they “put hands together” in a very public place and manner.
They said, “He just didn’t seem to care. You know he’s got his ring on. He has a wife, he has a relatively big job, but he didn’t act like he was concerned about any of those things at the time.
Holmes’ representative did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. Pettaway declined to comment.
Pettaway and Holmes’ sexual relationship continued for several months and led to him visiting her apartment before, the source said, “it fell apart.”
The source said Holmes didn’t seem to care that he was married or that he could be risking his job by having multiple affairs with women in the network. He and Marilee Fiebig (pictured) married in 2010
“She was a young woman, just starting out in a tough industry, looking for role models and mentors and she got TJ,” the source said. “Nobody talked about abuse of power at the time, but things happened.” Pettaway is pictured
Pettaway then became a segment producer for GMA and remained with ABC in New York for two years before returning to her hometown of Cleveland in late 2016, where she joined the network’s local affiliate.
Today, she’s an award-winning casting producer for ITV America, married, and founder of women’s digital lifestyle brand, Lemon-Love.
In an online interview with Voyage Ohio in 2021, she discussed her departure from New York, saying it was due to a “mixture of insecurity, loneliness and naivety”.
She also admitted that ABC’s “toxic work environment really hurt my self-esteem.”
DailyMail.com has been told Pettaway isn’t the only female subordinate Holmes has set foot on as, according to multiple sources, a young trainee from the network described herself as ‘stressed’ and ‘freaked out’ by his advances unwanted.
According to the source: “That’s who he was. Did he ever want to be professional when it came to Jasmine or just mess up the fruit he was given? I do not know. I just know he was always looking to be the guy with the swagger.
“He didn’t seem to care about being married or risking his job.”
The year after her relationship with Pettaway, Holmes began a three-year fling with GMA producer Natasha Singh, 37.
DailyMail.com previously revealed Holmes had a three-year affair with Good Morning America producer Natasha Singh, 37, which began in 2016.
At the time, she was married to film producer Garrett Braren, whose credits include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. She was also close friends with Robach.
In fact, it was Robach who helped Holmes save his marriage after his wife Marilee Feibig, 44, learned of his infidelity with Singh.
But neither Robach nor Holmes’ 12-year marriages could survive the revelation of their affair, which began as a bubbly friendship with obvious chemistry and “crossed the line” last year.
Holmes’ wife filed for divorce shortly after Christmas.
Robach’s divorce from her husband, former Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, 55, is said to be nearly finalized.
Professionally, their future is always at stake.
While ABC executives have yet to make a final decision, the official line remains that the co-hosts-turned-lovers will be out of their seats on the morning show’s lunchtime “indefinitely.”
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