"It reminds me of resilience, overcoming against all odds. It is doing it together, whether it's fun or not, because it's not always going to be easy," anchorwoman Jeannette Reyes shares when asked her definition of Black love. "It's defying the odds when everyone doubts it. You show them that it is possible, and even under that pressure, you thrive."
Reyes and her husband, ABC news anchor Robert Burton, have lived out this meaning in real life, often bringing us into their lives—and home—as a way to show that while their newsworthy union is certainly a beautiful display, it doesn't always mean there will be sunny skies. The two DC-based news anchors stole our hearts when they began sharing hilarious videos of themselves doing everyday tasks while using the "anchor voice." Amassing nearly half a million followers collectively on Instagram—and many more on TikTok—the Burtons are where they are today because of their transparency.
"I never want to perpetuate this idea of perfect, because I ultimately think it's harmful," Reyes says. "That's always been the driving force, to show you what's real, and anything different would be a disservice."
"It's defying the odds when everyone doubts it. You show them that it is possible, and even under pressure, you thrive."
Jeannette Reyes on the definition of Black love.
"You have to be real and let people know, it's not perfect every day," Burton chimes in. "We certainly face our own mountains."
The couple met over a decade ago at a news station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Reyes, fresh out of college and ready to begin her career as a newscaster, spotted Burton—a sports anchor—in the break room. While he happened to be wearing a wrestling mask—and literally stumbled into the room—she noticed that he was one of the few Black anchors there at the time. According to the couple, it was an awkward meeting that turned into a beautiful friendship.
As the years went on, Reyes and Burton progressed that friendship into a union, while often navigating the nuances of long distance in between. Fast-forward to present day, and they are both now in Washington, DC. Reyes is an anchor with Fox 5 D.C., while Burton is with 7 News D.C.. The couple also welcomed a daughter, Isabella, in June 2022. A segment they both say has been their favorite thus far.
"It's inspiring to watch her be a mom, because it inspires me. To see the amount of things she takes on while being a hell of a mom is beautiful," shares Burton. "Looking ahead, you know it won't be easy to raise a Black child, a Black woman. But every time I look at my daughter, I can't wait to teach her lessons as she gets older."
"Being a parent, shows you parts of you that you didn't know were there," adds Reyes. "I never thought in many ways that I could do this, and do it the way I've done it so far. And I enjoy every bit of it. I finally understand what people mean when they say it's the most exhausting yet rewarding time of your life."
As busy anchors, and viral content creators, the couple welcomes fans and viewers into their daily lives. But like many celebrity and viral couples, they stress the aim is not to become your couple goals but to show an authentic representation of a couple choosing each other each and every day—even when things get tough.
"Being able to be a parent, have this job and do social media, you have to really support and root each other on. You need that cheerleader in your corner to tell you that you're doing great. This will push you to the next level, especially when things get hard. I think we really do a great job of that right now," explains Burton.
When it comes to raising baby Bella, they both say that instilling their cultures are a big part of the plan. Reyes is Afro-Latina, with familial roots in the Dominican Republic, and Burton was raised in Chicago.
"I want [Bella] to see the Black women in our families—they're CEOs, doctors, lawyers, news anchors and more—but I also want to prepare her for the adversity she may face as a Black woman in this world."
Robert Burton
"One of the things I hope to do with her, especially as a Black woman, is to show her that she doesn't have to struggle at the detriment of others.," shares the anchorwoman. "She deserves happiness, she deserves peace. Life is just so much better and fuller when you advocate for yourself. I don't want her to have to learn that after the fact, you shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. Modeling that, is my biggest priority. My mother modeled that, and I want the same for my daughter."
