People know Ken Rosato for his career transition from priesthood to journalism, and controversy, born out of a derogatory term used against his co-worker, later ended his distinguished career.
Outside the newsroom, his personal life, including his marriage to Chris Sobel and his involvement in Pride events, provides additional context to his biography.
His past experiences have played a significant role in shaping the person he is today.
Ken Rosato Quick Facts
| Wiki and Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ken Rosato |
| Nick Name | Ken |
| Profession | Journalist, Former News Anchor |
| Famous as | Former ABC7 “Eyewitness News This Morning” Anchor |
| Age | 57 years old |
| Date of Birth | May 4, 1967 |
| Birthplace/Hometown | New Rochelle, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Sexuality | Gay |
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun Sign (Zodiac Sign) | Taurus |
| Height (in feet) | 6 feet 2 inches |
| Height (in centimeters) | 188 cm |
| Weight (in pounds) | 210 lbs |
| Weight (in kilograms) | 95 kg |
| Body Measurements (in inches) | Update soon |
| Body Measurements (in centimeters) | Update soon |
| Shoe Size in US | 12 |
| Tattoo Details | Update soon |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Parents | Daniel Rosato (Father), Rosemarie Rosato (Mother) |
| Siblings | Steven Rosato (Brother) |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Dating History | Update soon |
| Partner | Chris Sobel (Husband) |
| Children | None |
| Highest Qualification | MA in Languages, BFA in TV and Radio |
| School | Regis High School |
| Alma Mater | New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts |
| Hobbies & Favorites | Update soon |
| Favorite Celebrities | Update soon |
| Dream Holiday | Update soon |
| Favorite Color | Update soon |
| Interests | Update soon |
| Net Worth | $5 Million – $7 Million |
| Salary & Earnings | Over $5 Million annually (before firing) |
| @kenrosatoabc7 | |
| Update soon |
Why Was Ken Rosato Fired?
Ken Rosato, the main anchor for “Eyewitness News This Morning” on ABC7 in New York, was fired by the network after they accused him of using a derogatory word about his co-anchor, Shirleen Allicot.
Sources report that Rosato used the four-letter word “c**t” toward Allicot, and an open microphone captured the remark even though he was off the air at that moment.
This incident led the network to dismiss him immediately.
While the network did not initially explain the reason for Ken’s termination, a reliable insider from ABC7 confirmed that the network fired him because he used offensive language toward his co-anchor, Shirleen Allicot.
On 12th May, Friday, the station’s general manager announced by email that Ken was “no longer with WABC” and expressed gratitude for his service.
Although Rosato did not comment, his representative stated that the network did not fire him for using a racial slur and that the rumor is completely false and inaccurate.
The representative also highlighted that Rosato built a distinguished 20-year career at WABC, during which he consistently supported equality for everyone.
This incident does not stand alone, as the journalism industry has faced several controversies in recent years.
Who Replaced Ken Rosato?
WABC7 chose Mike Marza as the new anchor to replace Ken Rosato.
Mike Marza is a 42 year old anchor and reporter for ABC7NY.
After Ken’s departure, management selected Mike as one of their top choices to replace Rosato on “Eyewitness News This Morning.”
Ken Rosato Was Once A Priest!
Ken Rosato previously worked as a priest at the Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Community in Hollywood, Florida, in the early 2000s.
According to the chapel’s website, the church did not directly affiliate itself with Roman Catholicism but respected the religious institution and shared similar beliefs.
He moved to New York in 2003 and began his career in journalism.
Ken, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, started his career as a program director/DJ for WVIP in 1985.
He has since worked at various networks, including WBLI-FM, WLNY-TV, WFOR-TV, and WNYW-TV.
ABC7 fired Ken Rosato from his position in 2023.
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Ken Rosato Married Life, Husband Details
Ken Rosato is openly gay. However, he has kept this aspect of his life private and has not shared details on social media.
He is married to a man named Chris Sobel.
Chris and Ken have been together for 26 years, since 1999.
On August 6, 2016, Ken and Chris married in an intimate wedding ceremony.
The wedding theme remained blue and beige/white.
The grooms wore custom beige suits with white shirts and blue ties and pocket squares.
Some of the wedding treats, like cupcakes and the decorations, followed the blue and beige/white theme as well.
Trouble At The Wedding
The ring did not fit!
By the time of their wedding, Ken and Chris had engaged for a long time.
Chris lost a few pounds since the engagement, and the ring Ken gave him began to feel loose.
Chris decided to wear a fake ring and kept his actual engagement ring safe at home.
However, during the ring exchange ceremony, the ring clung to Chris’s finger and refused to budge.
Not wanting to let this issue spoil their celebration, Ken and Chris turned it into a playful moment.
After several attempts and using their strength, they finally managed to get the ring to fit.
Who Is Ken Rosato’s Husband Chris Sobel?
Chris Sobel, like Ken, comes from a journalism background.
Born in 1980 in Huntington, New York, Chris lived there for 18 years. Today, Chris is 45 years old.
Chris Sobel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Print Journalism and Political Science from the University of Miami between 1997 and 2001, which helped him build a career in the media industry.
Currently, he works as an executive producer for WCBS and has extensive experience in media production, having worked at several well-known organizations.
From March 2000 to December 2000, he worked as a Web Producer for KNIGHTRIDDER.COM in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.
From March 2000 to September 2000, he served as an Associate Producer for WFOR | CBS Miami in the same area.
From February 2001 to October 2001, he worked as a Copy Editor at the Sun Sentinel Media Group in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.
From October 2001 to June 2002, he served as a Producer at WFOR | CBS Miami.
Chris then joined WSVN-TV 7News as a Senior Producer from July 2002 to December 2004 in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.
Later, he worked as a Producer at WCBS | CBS New York from December 2004 to May 2014, which totaled 9 years and 6 months.
Finally, he served as Executive Producer at Fox 5 (WNYW-TV New York) from May 2014 to June 2022, completing 8 years and 2 months of service.
Ken Boasted About Net Worth on Grindr
In 2016, a scandal emerged that allegedly exposed Ken’s private life as a gay man.
Apparently, according to Grindr Hero, Ken was on the dating app called “Grindr,” famous amongst gay people and LGBTQ+ society in general.
The scandal did not concern Ken using Grindr, but a conversation he had with one of his matches.
In the conversation, Ken appeared to boast about his large $5 million salary and his lavish home, which appraisers value at $2 million.
Is this situation real?
Not exactly. Although screenshots of the conversation exist, no one can confirm that Ken really sent the text.
This might have represented an attempt to highlight his on-air personality, or it might be true.
No one clearly knows what Rosato did on the app in the year he married Chris.
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Enjoys Pride Parades
Ken ranks among the few ABC journalists who attend the Pride Parade every year and report from the event.
He works alongside reporters Kemberly Richardson, Lauren Glassberg, and Sam Champion.
Among these reporters, Sam also openly identifies as gay and has a partner.
Ken takes the parade very seriously.
He even dresses up for the occasion along with his co-hosts.
For many years, Ken’s personal life puzzled viewers (until Chris revealed himself). The fact that he referred to Lori Stokes as his “work wife” added to the confusion.
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Ken Rosato’s Wife At Work – Lori Stokes
Ken Rosato calls Lori Stokes his work wife. However, this term does not imply a romantic relationship.
Lori Stokes, who is 62 years old, previously wed Brian Thompson and has two children from that marriage. The couple has since divorced.
Ken asked Lori to be his Valentine on Valentine’s Day in 2015.
It remains clear that their relationship remains purely professional and based on a strong friendship.
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Ken Rosato Bio: Age, Height, Background
Ken Rosato, an ABC journalist, entered the world on May 4, 1967, in New Rochelle, New York. He is 57 years old.
He is the son of Daniel Rosato and Rosemarie Rosato.
Similarly, Ken grew up with his brother Steven Rosato.
Ken attended Regis High School and later continued his studies.
He graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in TV and Radio.
Rosato later earned an MA in languages, which is why he speaks Spanish and Italian fluently.
Ken Rosato Salary and Net Worth
Before ABC fired him from ABC, Ken earned an annual salary of over $5 million, which equates to just over $400,000 per month.
This figure comes from the screenshots related to the Grindr scandal and remains unconfirmed officially.
Ken currently lives with his husband, Chris Sobel, in a Caldwell, New Jersey home that real estate experts value at over $2 million.
Analysts estimate his net worth to range between $5 million and $7 million.
What a j*rk of a Fa**ot ! ! !
Shame, firing uncalled for. She just maybe that. It’s his opinion. Unfortunately his mic was on. How many others feel same way? Good luck Ken. No longer watch eyewitness news.
Very fair to say that the comment Mr. Ken Rosato may have made was NOT RACIST. It had nothing to do with racism. He didn’t specify her race but rather a comment on her, NOT her race. It was his opinion. And after 20 plus years of faithful service to ABC , their decision was dead wrong to fire such a highly qualified news journalist. Wrong choice of words perhaps. But an apology may have been the only thing that was needed. Mr. Rosato you will do better by leaving ABC. I am not watching that newscast any longer.