birthday boy

Gio Benitez gets a surprise birthday message on ‘Good Morning America’

By

In case you missed it, ABC’s Good Morning America marked the birthday of weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez with some surprises yesterday.

First of all, they brought out Benitez’s husband, Tommy DiDario, who had commissioned a special Harry Potter cake for his partner. Benitez, who turned 38, is a huge Potter fan.

Secondly, they also got singer Gloria Estafan to send Benitez a special birthday message.

Estefan was born in Cuba, but her family emigrated to Miami when she was just two years old. Benitez was born in Miami to Cuban parents.

Watch the cute segment below.

Last year, Benitez reported on the New York City Pride parade. He went viral for a segment in which he recounted his coming out to his mom when he was 24.

“I went into it knowing you had to give room and space to understanding. I did not expect her to understand in 24 hours what took me 24 years.

“But incredibly, when I told her … it was a very emotional experience, she was scared when I was struggling to get the words out. And I told her and I said, ‘I’m gay’, and she … had a sigh of relief and said, ‘I thought you were going to tell me something is wrong’.”

Benitez and DiDario—also a TV host, reporter and podcaster—met via Instagram in January 2015. They became engaged in Paris in September 2015. They married in Miami on April 16, 2016.

DiDario shared more photos of Benitez with his birthday cake on his Instagram.

Benitez joined Good Morning America as a reporter in 2013. He was promoted to weekend co-anchor in May of this year.

Here’s the emotional moment he took up his new role.

Related:

Migguel Anggelo Explores His Queer, Latino, and Immigrant Identities in Upcoming Production English with an Accent

Oscar Montoya Wants More Latine And Queer People In Front Of and Behind The Cameras

Don't forget to share:
Tags:
Read More in Entertainment
Timothée Chalamet reacts to a ballroom dance-off that people thought was him
tens across the board
Timothée Chalamet reacts to a ballroom dance-off that people thought was him
BY David Hudson
There’s a serious sapphic theme in Baldur’s Gate 3’s favored romance options
Romancing the Gays
There’s a serious sapphic theme in Baldur’s Gate 3’s favored romance options
BY Johnny Levanier
Dua Lipa just leaked her own phone number
Left On Read
Dua Lipa just leaked her own phone number
BY Jude Cramer
Gay basketball player Isaac Humphries showcases one of his biggest assets
versatile
Gay basketball player Isaac Humphries showcases one of his biggest assets
BY David Hudson
Lil Nas X hilariously reveals the devastating criticism that still haunts him
ouch
Lil Nas X hilariously reveals the devastating criticism that still haunts him
BY David Hudson
Charles Melton studied this steamy gay flick to prepare for <i>May December</i>
An Actor Prepares
Charles Melton studied this steamy gay flick to prepare for May December
BY Henry Giardina
The Latest on INTO
The gayest state in America is…Kentucky!?
Queer Nation
The gayest state in America is…Kentucky!?
BY Jude Cramer
What happened to Adele when Lady Gaga showed up at her Las Vegas residency
Nerves
What happened to Adele when Lady Gaga showed up at her Las Vegas residency
BY Joshua S. Mackey
Model of the Year nominee calls out the UK government for “trans cleansing”
Call Out
Model of the Year nominee calls out the UK government for “trans cleansing”
BY Johnny Levanier
Hot dogs, lisps, and gay gasps: how the <i>May December</i> memes are taking over our brains
Gay Gift
Hot dogs, lisps, and gay gasps: how the May December memes are taking over our brains
BY Henry Giardina
TikTok zaddy Jon Kung releases new cookbook and teases ‘OnlyFlans’
Get INTO It
TikTok zaddy Jon Kung releases new cookbook and teases ‘OnlyFlans’
BY Marcus J. Hernandez
How Magnus Riise’s “Still Here” music video tackles loneliness through song and sign language
Visibility
How Magnus Riise’s “Still Here” music video tackles loneliness through song and sign language
BY Joshua S. Mackey