While “Good Morning America” is riding high in the ratings, news reader Josh Elliott is creating waves on the set.
Sources tell Page Six that current show “golden boy” Elliott is a “diva” when the cameras of the ABC morning show are not on him.
One show insider said ambitious Elliott “has made it fully clear he wants George Stephanopoulos’ job, and is wholly obvious about it. He makes snide comments.”
But our source said, “George just ignores it. George is a consummate professional and isn’t threatened by Josh.”
The show insider continued, “Josh is acting like a brat. He yells at staffers, including his own writers, saying things like, ‘Who the [bleep] wrote this?’ — while he is miked up, so everyone in the studio can hear.
“There have been a number of complaints about Josh’s behavior to news executives.”
The insider said the great on-camera chemistry among co-anchors Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer and Elliott has helped them torch NBC rival “Today” in the ratings. But despite the victory, “Josh’s behavior off camera is totally toxic for the team, and it has to stop.”
Elliott started as an anchor on ESPN before he was plucked for ‘GMA’ last year. The show’s strides in the ratings prompted ABC bosses to launch a “Good Afternoon” show hosted by Elliott and Spencer until Katie Couric’s show starts next month.
When we asked about Elliott’s alleged diva behavior, “GMA” senior executive producer Tom Cibrowski said, “Nothing could be further from the truth. Josh is the ultimate team player. He has incredible passion for ‘GMA’ — he has helped us get to No. 1 and has enormous respect for his co-anchors.”
Another insider suggested this story was planted by those threatened by Josh’s “golden” status and added that while he “is a very outspoken guy, he has huge respect for the staff. There is a natural competitiveness in morning TV and someone is making more of this than it really is.”