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fiancee Amber Laign’s festivities, with a source telling us: “People are sh-tting their pants!” “It’s the first time she will be there in years,” they said, adding, “She traumatized them for years. Robin was the only one who could put up with her.”
Another industry insider was equally stunned. “She [was] a viper!,” they said, “But Robin obviously likes her, so it makes sense.”
And she was seemingly welcomed back with open arms, at least by the woman of the hour. Roberts was so excited to see her that she gave her a shout out on-air after hugging her. “Shelley Ross! My first executive producer,” she gushed.
ABC talent rarely gushed over Ross during her heyday at the network in the 2000s. In fact, she was ubiquitous in media gossip columns for fostering a tense workplace and rubbing employees the wrong way.
But a third ABC insider told us Ross’ controversial past was yesterday’s news at Roberts’ big celebration.
“The energy was amazing and very celebratory. Everybody was very excited to catch up backstage. It felt nice,” they said. And an ABC spokesperson described Roberts’ in-studio celebration as “nothing but love and appreciation for the couple and those who joined them.”
Roberts’ ABC colleagues and fellow news pals including Sawyer, Lara Spencer, Michael Strahan, George Stephanopolous, Deborah Roberts, Gayle King and her retired news anchor sister Sally-Ann were all at the studio to toast her upcoming nuptials. Actress Niecy Nash co-hosted the party and Carla Hall made mocktail spicy margaritas and espresso martinis. En Vogue performed a medley of their hits and the fete ended with “GMA” weekend anchor Gio Benitez’s husband and TV personality Tommy DiDario jumping out of a cake.
