Robin Roberts and her longtime partner Amber Laign are finally headed down the aisle.
The reporter announced on Good Morning America on Monday that after 18 years together she and her girlfriend have decided that this year they will get married. Roberts told author Gabrielle Bernstein on the news show, “I’m saying yes to marriage. We’re getting married this year.” She added that she had been “hesitating” to share the happy news because she hadn’t “said it out loud yet.” The anchor also revealed that she and Laign had “talked about” having a wedding in the past, but ultimately decided to “put it off” after her partner was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2021. Laign had to suspend her cancer treatment due to “complications with the chemotherapy,” however, she was able to go on and complete her radiation therapy in July 2022. Following her nuptial announcement, Bernstein urged Roberts to “create a wedding vision board,” prompting the journalist to begin fanning herself with her note cards. Roberts joked, “I can’t believe I said that.”
The journalist and Laign first began dating in July 2005, but Roberts did not share her sexual orientation until December 2013. She is also a breast cancer survivor, undergoing a bone marrow transplant in 2012. In a Facebook post at the time documenting her recovery from cancer, Roberts wrote, “I am grateful for my entire family, my longtime girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together. I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold.”
In 2020, the pair celebrated their 15th anniversary together and Laign reminisced on Instagram about the blind date that first brought them together. “15 years ago I met you for drinks on a blind date that both you and I tried to cancel…twice,” the former massage therapist began. “Your grace caught my eye right away and the ease of the evening continued to flow through dinner. We had a second date soon after and I couldn’t believe how at ease I was with you as we shared each other’s lives sipping lychee and apple martinis. You left for Tahiti the following day and during that time apart I grew this feeling inside of me that still, is very present today….butterflies. Having you by my side is a gift as we continue to navigate this thing called life. I drive you crazy….I know which is why I love you even more to this day. You have the kindest heart and most beautiful soul than anyone I know. You have shown me time and time again to stay humble and to always treat others with the utmost respect as you never know what one might be going through ❤ Beautiful…..absolutely beautiful. I love you with all my heart.”