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End of an Era: AmNews Legend ‘Flo’ Anthony Dead at 74
Florence "Flo" Anthony: The Trailblazing Celebrity Journalist Who Changed Entertainment News Forever
Who Was Florence "Flo" Anthony?
Imagine a world where the people reporting on famous celebrities didn’t look like the communities they covered. Florence "Flo" Anthony changed that world.
Flo was a pioneering celebrity journalist—a reporter who writes about famous people like movie stars, musicians, and athletes. She passed away on Thursday, August 6, at age 74 after battling cancer. Her husband, boxing legend Michael Spinks, confirmed the news through their biographer, Jack Hirsch.
Important Point: Flo wasn’t just a reporter—she was a history-maker who opened doors for Black women in journalism.
A Woman of Many Firsts
Flo walked into newsrooms where almost no one looked like her. At the time, most journalists were white men. She didn’t just enter these spaces—she transformed them.
Here are her historic "firsts":
- First woman to work in the sports department of the New York Post
- First African American to work in the New York Post‘s entertainment department
- First African American to work on Page Six—the world-famous celebrity gossip column
- First African American woman to write a column for a supermarket tabloid (National Examiner "Eye on the Stars")
Important Point: These weren’t just job promotions. They were breaks in a wall that had kept women of color out of tabloid journalism for decades.
From Public Relations to Journalism
Before she became a famous journalist, Flo worked behind the scenes as a publicist—someone who helps famous people manage their public image.
Her impressive client list included:
- Muhammad Ali (boxing legend)
- Larry Holmes (boxing champion)
- Mike McCallum (boxing champion)
- Matthew Saad Muhammad (boxing champion)
- Saoul Mamby (boxing champion)
- Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (boxing champion)
- Michael Spinks (whom she later married in January 2026)
This experience gave her a superpower: she understood how journalists, publicists, and celebrities worked together. She knew how to get stories and how to protect her clients.
She also helped launch careers:
Many young publicists got their first big break because Flo:
- Answered their phone calls
- Opened their emails
- Saw potential in their story ideas
Breaking Big Stories
Flo didn’t just report gossip—she broke exclusive stories (news that no one else had). She believed gossip journalism was real reporting that required accuracy and responsibility.
Some of her biggest scoops:
- Mike Tyson and Robin Givens’ marriage
- Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s marriage
- John McEnroe and Tatum O’Neal’s marriage
- Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s adoption news
Important Point: Flo treated celebrity news like serious journalism—she verified facts and took responsibility for getting stories right.
Television and Radio Star
Flo became a familiar face on TV during the 1990s. She appeared on shows hosted by legends like:
- Joan Rivers
- Ricki Lake
- Geraldo Rivera
- Sally Jessy Raphael
- Maury Povich
- Leeza Gibbons
- And many more!
Her TV credits include:
- 6 seasons on E! Entertainment Television’s "The Gossip Show" (contributor → co-host)
- Multiple episodes of "E! True Hollywood Story"
- Regular contributor to TV One’s "Unsung," "Unsung Hollywood," and "Life After"
- Appearances on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, HLN, Court TV
- Contributions to "Inside Edition," "The Insider," and "Entertainment Tonight"
She also ruled the radio waves:
Through her company Dottie Media Group LLC, she hosted:
- "Gossip on the Go With Flo"
- "Flo Anthony’s Big Apple Buzz"
These shows aired in about 20 markets across the country, reaching millions of listeners.
Author and Storyteller
Flo turned her decades of insider knowledge into four novels:
- Keeping Secrets, Telling Lies
- Deadly Stuff Players
- One Last Deadly Play
- Last Call for a Deadly Diva
These books transformed real-life observations about fame, ambition, deception, and power into thrilling fiction.
Her Home at the Amsterdam News
For over 20 years (since 2001), Flo’s weekly column "Go With The Flo" was a staple in The New York Amsterdam News—one of the oldest Black newspapers in America. She also wrote for:
- Philadelphia Sunday Sun
- Columbus Times
- New York Daily News
She served as publisher and editor-in-chief of Black Noir magazine and editor-in-chief of Black Elegance magazine.
Important Point: At the Amsterdam News, colleagues said: "She was more than a byline. She was family."
Her Own Words on Her Legacy
In a 2013 interview, Flo said:
"I’ve broken in roads that will never be broken in again. So if I never wrote another sentence or got on radio again in life or got on TV, I would miss it yes but I feel I’ve done a lot of what God put me on this earth to do."
Summary
Florence "Flo" Anthony was a trailblazer who:
- Broke multiple racial and gender barriers in journalism
- Became the first Black woman on New York Post‘s Page Six
- Worked as a top publicist for boxing legends including Muhammad Ali
- Broke major celebrity exclusives with accuracy and integrity
- Became a trusted TV and radio personality for decades
- Authored four novels inspired by her insider knowledge
- Mentored countless young journalists and publicists
- Left a legacy of excellence, persistence, and representation
She proved that a Black woman could not just participate in celebrity journalism—she could lead it, shape it, and open doors for generations to come.
FAQ
What made Flo Anthony so special?
She was a "first" in multiple categories—first woman in New York Post sports, first Black person on Page Six, first Black woman columnist for a supermarket tabloid. But beyond titles, she brought integrity to gossip journalism and mentored countless careers.
Who was she married to?
She married Michael Spinks, a boxing legend and Olympic gold medalist, in January 2026. They began dating in 1987 when she was his publicist.
What was her most famous column?
"Go With The Flo" ran weekly in The New York Amsterdam News from 2001 until her passing—a remarkable 20+ year run.
Did she only write about celebrities?
No! She started in sports journalism, worked as a publicist for boxing champions, wrote four novels, and held editor-in-chief roles at two magazines (Black Noir and Black Elegance).
How did she get her start in journalism?
She graduated from Howard University, came to New York wanting to be an actress, worked as a teacher, then moved into public relations with talent manager Tobe Gibson. Her first newspaper job was as an agate clerk (someone who compiles sports statistics) at the New York Post—and she climbed up from there.
Flo Anthony didn’t just report on culture—she changed it. Her voice, her persistence, and her excellence made room for so many who came after her. Rest in power, Flo.
