Good Morning America host Robin Roberts was originally afraid to interview former President Barack Obama about his change in stance on marriage equality in 2012, as he had not yet come out as gay, she revealed.
Roberts, 61, spoke about her concerns about interviewing the former president in 2012, when he made the historic announcement that he supported same-sex marriage, on Monday’s episode of The Ellen Show.
She told host Ellen DeGeneres that she was dismayed when the White House first approached her for the interview as rumors spread that the president would change his stance on marriage equality.
I hadn’t come out as gay yet and I was afraid that I would be outed, that people would ask, “Why is she the one interviewing the president when he’s making this shift in his stance?” Roberts, who has been in a relationship with marriage counselor Amber Laign for about 17 years, recounted.
But, she said, she later decided it would be a great opportunity for her to do the interview and agreed.
“It was like a scene from ‘Moonstruck,'” he said. ‘[I thought] “Leave it, Robin, what are you thinking? This is not about you/This man is going to impact countless lives.
“And it was at that moment that I said, ‘I’m not going to stop letting fear stop me from doing the things I want to do.'”
Good Morning America host Robin Roberts reveals on Monday’s episode of The Ellen Show that she was afraid to interview former President Barack Obama about his changing views on marriage equality in 2012 because he hadn’t yet come out as gay.
Ellen DeGeneres applauded Roberts for her bravery, saying everyone should “be authentically who they were born to be.”
“I’m so thankful that I did that,” she continued, noting, “Soon after, on Instagram or on social media, I talked about Amber, and all the fear I had about being a Christian, that people would look at me differently. i was hugged
“Again, if we think about how many times we’ve let fear keep us on the sidelines,” Roberts reflected, “and I’m very, very glad that’s not the case anymore.”
“I’m not going to get everything I want in life, and I’m not going to achieve everything,” he said. ‘But by God, fear isn’t going to be the reason I’m not.’
After the studio audience applauded the ABC host for her bravery, host Ellen DeGeneres said she agreed.
“There’s just no reason not to be authentically who you were born to be because you’re doing a disservice to whatever you believe in: whether you believe in God or the universe, or however you want to put it, there’s only one of you in all.” of time, so I know all that you are,’ he said.
He finally decided to conduct the interview with Obama, who was facing re-election against Republican Mitt Romney. It turned out to be fruitful as the then president revealed his support for same-sex marriage.
Roberts, 61, has been in a relationship with marriage counselor Amber Laign for 17 years.
Roberts’ interview with the former president as he prepared to face Republican Mitt Romney in his re-election bid turned out to be fruitful.
It made headlines across the country when Obama explained that he “had been hesitant about gay marriage, in part, because he thought civil unions would suffice.”
“I was aware of the fact that, for a lot of people, the word ‘marriage’ is something that triggers very powerful religious traditions and beliefs,” Obama said at the time.
But he said after seeing some of his staff with their same-sex partners: “At a certain point, I just concluded that for me, personally, it’s important for me to go ahead and state that I believe that same-sex couples They should be able to get married.
A year later, in an end-of-the-year Facebook message on his page, Roberts officially came out as gay, writing, “I am grateful for my entire family, my long-time girlfriend Amber and my friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new Year”. together.’
The GMA host opened up about their relationship in a Facebook post in late 2013.
The post came on the 100th day anniversary of her recovery from a bone marrow transplant to treat a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome, while continuing to battle breast cancer.
Now his girlfriend, Laign, faces a similar battle.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and underwent surgery earlier this year.
Roberts has since told DeGeneres on Monday’s episode, “I’m in a puddle every time I think about what Amber is going through.”
Roberts said she has been acting as Laign’s caretaker and in doing so has realized how much Laign has been protecting her as she battled breast cancer.
Now he reminds others to get screened regularly, noting that Laign put off going to the doctor during the pandemic.
The full episode with Roberts, whose new book Brighter by the Day: Waking Up to New Hopes and Dreams is out now, is scheduled to air Monday at 3 p.m.
Reference-www.dailymail.co.uk