Radio and Television Icon Dies at 74 After Decades of Breaking Barriers in Entertainment

The entertainment world is mourning a journalist, radio personality, author, publicist, and television commentator who died Thursday, August 6, at 74. Her career stretched across journalism, celebrity publicity, broadcasting, publishing, and pop culture, making her a presence for audiences and industry insiders.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she moved to New York after graduating from Howard University. She originally dreamed of becoming a movie actress, but her path changed when journalism opened a different door.

Her early career included publicity work for names in entertainment and sports. She represented members of the Jackson family and worked with legendary athletes including Muhammad Ali, Butch Lewis, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Mike McCallum, and Matthew Saad Muhammad.

She later made history as the first Black gossip columnist at the New York Post’s Page Six. The position placed her at the center of celebrity news during an era when gossip columns held influence over entertainment coverage.

Her professional relationships extended throughout Hollywood, music, sports, and television. She counted figures including Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, Whitney Houston, and Donald Trump among people she knew during her career.

Her work also reached television. She contributed to Inside Edition, The Insider, and Entertainment Tonight, while radio listeners knew her from the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, where she presented a segment called “Gossip to Go with Flo.”

She became a familiar television commentator through appearances on E! True Hollywood Story, discussing celebrities including La Toya Jackson, Robin Givens, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Bobby Brown.

Her talents extended into publishing. She served as editor in chief and publisher of Black Noir magazine, adding another dimension to her career that crossed several areas of media.

Her personal life also included a long relationship with boxer Michael Spinks. According to the provided account, the pair had dated since 1987 before marrying at a New York City courthouse on January 6, 2026.

News of her death prompted tributes from people who recognized her influence. CNN entertainment journalist Lisa Respers France described her as a figure for Black women covering popular culture and credited her with helping shape the field.

She also left behind reflections about her unexpected career journey. Although she originally moved to New York hoping to act, she ultimately embraced journalism and viewed the change as part of a larger purpose.

Her story represents a career built through adaptability and persistence. She entered New York hoping for one profession and ultimately created a broader legacy across journalism, publicity, radio, television, and publishing.

For generations of readers and viewers, she became more than a gossip columnist. She was a cultural commentator who understood the entertainment world from multiple perspectives and developed relationships that gave her unusual access to celebrity news.

The journalist, author, publicist, broadcaster, and media pioneer remembered for breaking barriers and building an influential career was Florence “Flo” Anthony, whose work continues to represent an important chapter in Black entertainment journalism.