Florence “Flo” Anthony, a groundbreaking entertainment journalist whose name became familiar across print, radio and television, has died. She was 74.
Anthony died August 6 after a battle with cancer, according to Jack Hirsch, the biographer of her husband, Olympic gold medalist and former professional boxing champion Michael Spinks. Hirsch confirmed the news to Anthony’s longtime publication, the New York Amsterdam News.
Flo Anthony Dead at 74 After Cancer Battle
For decades, Flo Anthony built a career with persistence, sharp instincts and a deep understanding of celebrity culture. She was more than a columnist chasing the next headline. Anthony became a recognizable media voice at a time when women of color were too often pushed to the margins of entertainment journalism.
Her work helped widen the lane for Black journalists covering Hollywood, music, sports-adjacent celebrity circles and the public figures who shaped pop culture. Readers knew her for access, energy and a style that felt direct, informed and unmistakably hers.
Who Was Flo Anthony?
Flo Anthony was an entertainment columnist, author, TV personality and radio figure whose career crossed multiple platforms long before that kind of media versatility became expected. She reported on stars, interviewed newsmakers and carved out space in an industry that did not always make room easily.
Her long association with the New York Amsterdam News connected her work to one of the country’s most important Black newspapers. Through that platform and others, Anthony became a trusted name for readers looking for entertainment news with perspective, personality and cultural awareness.
A Barrier-Breaking Voice in Entertainment Journalism
Anthony’s career stood out not only because of longevity, but because of what it represented. She entered and thrived in media spaces where representation was limited, particularly for Black women covering celebrity and entertainment news at a national level.
She also understood the power of being present across formats. Whether in print, on the air or in front of a camera, Anthony brought confidence and familiarity to her reporting. That visibility mattered. It showed younger journalists that entertainment media did not have to be a closed room.
Flo Anthony’s Connection to Michael Spinks
Anthony was married to Michael Spinks, the celebrated boxer who won Olympic gold and went on to become a professional champion. News of her passing was confirmed by Jack Hirsch, Spinks’ biographer, underscoring the close ties between Anthony’s media life and the broader sports and entertainment worlds she often covered.
Her personal and professional circles placed her near some of the most recognizable names in American culture, but Anthony’s own career was never secondary. She earned recognition through her voice, her work ethic and her ability to remain relevant across changing media eras.
Remembering Flo Anthony’s Legacy
Flo Anthony leaves behind a legacy defined by access, ambition and representation. She helped shape the way celebrity journalism could look and sound, especially when told through the lens of a Black woman with authority and insider knowledge.
Her death marks the loss of a pioneering figure in entertainment media, but her influence remains in every journalist who saw her career and understood that the door could be pushed open further.
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