Robin Roberts feared she would be outed if she did an interview with Barack Obama

Robin Roberts has revealed she was afraid of being outed if she interviewed former President Barack Obama on marriage equality in 2012.

Roberts, 61, came out as part of the LGBTQ community in 2013 and has been in a relationship with partner Amber Laign since 2005.

The “Good Morning America” ​​anchor appears in Monday’s episode “The Ellen Show” where she recalled the time the White House called her for an interview with the Supreme Commander.

“That would be possible [he] would change his stance on marriage equality,” the ABC star explained to hostess Ellen DeGeneres, 64. “I hadn’t come out publicly about being gay and I was afraid that I might be outed for that people might ask – ‘Why is she? the one who interviews the President when he makes that change in attitude?’ ”

However, Roberts said she later decided to perform, realizing it was a great opportunity for her.

The Alabama native continued, “It was like a scene from ‘Moonstruck.’ [I thought] “Stop doing that; Robin, what are you thinking? It’s not about you This man will affect countless lives.’ And in that moment, I said, “I’m going to stop letting fear hold me back from the things I want to do.”

“I’m so thankful I did that [interview with Obama],” she continued. “Shortly after, I was talking about Amber on Instagram or on social media and all the fear I had as a Christian that people would look at me differently.”

“[But] I was hugged. Again, if we just stop and think about how often we let fear keep us on the edge and I’m so, so 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, but by God, fear isn’t going to be the reason I don’t,” she added.

Roberts also revealed to DeGeneres that she was an emotional “puddle” dealing with her partner Laign’s ongoing health struggle. She announced on April 18 that Laign is puts her breast cancer treatment on hold initially because of “complications from chemotherapy”.

The Newscaster announced in February that Laign was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and had surgery earlier this year.

Roberts revealed Laign’s decision in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, say, “They’re working on it. We’ll find out. The prognosis is still very good.”

She said: “I’m just grateful that her spirits have been lifted. It’s been a little tough there lately, when – because she just wanted to get through it and have that wrench thrown in our way – but I could tell her, like most people [who] going through cancer, that happens.”