Flo Anthony Remembered as a Trailblazing Voice Who Redefined Celebrity Journalism and Opened Doors for Black Reporters

 Flo Anthony, the celebrated journalist and longtime entertainment personality, is being remembered at 74 as a barrier-breaking figure whose career helped change the face of celebrity journalism. Anthony became a familiar voice to audiences through newspapers, radio, television, and books, while her distinctive approach to entertainment reporting made her one of the most recognizable personalities in gossip media. Her death has prompted colleagues, friends, and admirers to reflect on a career that combined sharp reporting, cultural visibility, and an unmistakable personal style.

Anthony made journalism history at the New York Post, becoming the first African American reporter to join its influential Page Six team. She was also the first woman to work in the newspaper’s sports section, achievements that demonstrated the breadth of her talents at a time when opportunities for women and Black journalists were considerably more limited. Her accomplishments were significant not merely because they broke institutional barriers, but because she continued building a long career after entering spaces where few people who looked like her had previously been represented.

Her signature work eventually expanded far beyond the newspaper page. Anthony created “Go With the Flo,” a syndicated column that appeared in publications including the New York Amsterdam News, Columbus Times, and Philadelphia Sunday Sun. She also hosted the syndicated radio feature “Gossip on the Go With Flo,” became a regular contributor to entertainment outlets, and developed a recognizable presence on television. Her career gave her access to major figures across music, film, television, sports, and popular culture, making her a trusted and highly visible participant in entertainment media.

During the 1990s, Anthony became a familiar face on talk shows and entertainment programs, appearing on programs including “Ricki Lake,” “Sally,” “Geraldo,” and “The Joan Rivers Show.” She also contributed to entertainment news programs and specials, bringing her reporting style to audiences far beyond traditional newspaper readers. Her television work demonstrated an ability to move comfortably between print journalism and broadcast media while maintaining the personality and directness that had become closely associated with her professional identity.

Anthony was also an author, writing four novels alongside her extensive journalism career. Her professional relationships with prominent entertainers helped establish her as more than a newspaper columnist; she became a celebrity within the world she covered. Her work included memorable access to major cultural figures, and her longevity reflected an ability to remain relevant as entertainment journalism evolved from newspapers and radio toward television and broader digital media. She continued contributing to the culture she helped shape well into her later years.

According to Page Six, Anthony died after a battle with cancer. Her longtime friend Jean Shafiroff confirmed her passing, while publicist and friend Todd Shapiro remembered her as someone whose love for celebrity culture became inseparable from her own public identity. Anthony also married former heavyweight boxing champion Michael Spinks in January 2026 after a relationship that had begun decades earlier. Her final message to Page Six, sent from a hospital shortly before her death, reflected the warmth and positivity remembered by those close to her.

Flo Anthony leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond gossip columns and celebrity interviews. She challenged barriers, established her own platforms, and demonstrated that a journalist could become both an authoritative reporter and a distinctive media personality without losing the importance of storytelling. For aspiring Black journalists and women entering competitive media spaces, her career offered a visible example of persistence and possibility. Her name will remain part of journalism history through the doors she opened, the stories she told, and the generations of media professionals who saw what could be achieved because she had gone before them.