ABC officially welcomed Gio Benitez to Good Morning America as a weekend co-anchor in an emotional segment that elicited tears from Benitiez and his co-anchors whom he considers "family."
Benitez launched his career in 2009 as a local reporter in Miami. He made TV history as the first to shoot an entire news segment on his iPhone.
He joined GMA in 2013 and made a name for himself by covering a wide variety of breaking news and serving as the show's transportation correspondent.
On Saturday, the show presented Benitez with a film montage retrospective of his journalism career so far that concluded with a surprise clip of his family congratulating him.
Seeing his proud mother and sister celebrating his promotion elicited tears from Benitez while listening to their heartfelt messages.
\u201c@GMA @GioBenitez Nice! Seeing his Mom made my eyes water too, because in my own career seeing the pride in my parents eyes is all I ever needed. I knew what I did mattered. \n\nCongrats Gio! Keep being the inspiration our Raza needs.\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1683991936
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez As soon as they showed Gio\u2019s mom & sis & then cut to him I started \ud83d\ude2d. You would have to be heartless to not be moved!\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
You can watch GMA welcoming Benitez into his new position, here.
Benitez was born in Miami to Cuban American parents.
"My family. That's all I can think about at this moment," said the emotional 37-year-old as he showed viewers his grandfather's pocket watch he'd been carrying as a reminder of his ancestors' journey immigrating to America.
Through tears, Benitez said:
"I keep thinking about their journey to this country from Cuba, leaving everything behind."
"And the idea that we get to sit on this set, bearing the name of the country that gave them so much hope, is just everything to me.”
\u201c@GMA @GioBenitez We love Gio! He deserves this and more. He\u2019s the best!\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1683991936
He also acknowledged his friend and now fellow GMA co-anchor, Whit Johnson, to whom he reached out when Benitez was 23 and Johnson was 27.
"We've been friends and family for 14 years," he said.
Benitez recalled the first time he noticed Johnson:
"I was an anxious local reporter and I was a mess."
"I didn't know what I was doing and then I see this guy on TV. He was 27 I was 23, and I was like, 'How does he do it?'"
He said he reached out to Johnson, who called him back and they've remained friends ever since.
\u201c@GMA @GioBenitez Congratulations Gio!!! This is so well deserved! Your smile is everything!\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1683991936
\u201c@GMA @GioBenitez \u2764\ufe0f this. What an amazing story! Gio seems like such a great guy with a heart of gold. He's so right about America no matter how angry I get with her inhabitants and the things they do and say America = opportunity. #IMO PS Gio is adorable \ud83d\ude0a\ud83e\udd2d\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udfff\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1683991936
Benitez's husband, fellow TV host Tommy DiDario, was also overcome with emotion and posted a photo of him in the studio observing the exciting moment.
\u201cMe: I\u2019m not going to cry today. I\u2019ve got nothing left.\nAlso Me:\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
DiDario was invited onto the set during the celebratory segment and embraced his husband in an emotional hug, telling Benitez how proud he was of him.
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t miss this moment for the world. Congratulations @GioBenitez. I can\u2019t wait to watch you soar every weekend as the new Co-anchor of @GMA Saturday and Sunday.\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1683990419
The internet also cheered alongside DiDario.
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez You can\u2019t contain this kind of joy \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez i gotta admit Gio got me choked up too remembering his grandparents' voyage to America. #goodguys \ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffe\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez Proud moment! Tommy, your husband has landed in a well deserved role! Congrats to him and you!!!\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez So touching. I just love your hubby so deserving. My hubby laughs when I say quite Gio is reporting lol. I love the ABC News Family.\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez You both bring such joy to people. Congrats to you both on your successes.\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
\u201c@tommydidario @GioBenitez The way you and your husband look at each other... \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude0d\n\nCongratulations Gio \ud83d\ude4f\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Tommy DiDario (@Tommy DiDario) 1684000903
Kim Godwin, the president of ABC News, shared the exciting update in a statement.
“Gio is an intrepid journalist and talented anchor, and his addition marks an exciting, new chapter for the best weekend morning program in the business fueled by the tireless work and dedication of co-anchors Whit and Janai, Simone and the team."
“I look forward to Gio’s unique energy and to Gio bringing more enterprise and feature reporting to the program.”
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