Longtime publicist of the Jackson family and trailblazing journalist Florence “Flo” Anthony has sadly passed away.
Florence’s husband, a former professional boxer, Michael Spinks, confirmed his wife’s passing to his biographer Jack Hirsch, according to AmNews, where Florence had her own gossip column, “Go With the Flo.”
AmNews reported that Florence passed away on Thursday, August 6, at the age of 74. A cause of death has not yet been confirmed; however, Hirsch shared with AmNews that Florence disclosed to him in March that she was battling cancer.
Although Florence was a spokesperson for the entire Jackson family, she was particularly close to La Toya Jackson, 70.
Jackson Family Publicist Florence ‘Flo’ Anthony Passes Away
Florence worked closely with La Toya over several decades after becoming a delegate for the Jackson family in the ‘70s. Over the years, Florence defined her voice in the media through her respected Jackson-family commentary.
In 2000, Florence spoke on behalf of La Toya in her “E! True Hollywood Story,” in which La Toya’s life story was profiled by her close companions, including her mom, Katherine Jackson.
Notably, Florence intervened for the Jacksons after a headlining confrontation in October 1992 between La Toya and her sister Janet Jackson. At the time, Janet accused La Toya of recording their private conversation while at a recording studio in Minneapolis. Florence defended the family crisis in the media, appearing on “The Joan Rivers Show,” saying the incident was a “devastating experience” for La Toya.
Florence’s ability to minimize damage within the Jackson camp was not only honored but also expected, as her voice lent a clear and precise reaction to the press for the famed family.
While Florence worked closely with La Toya and the Jacksons for more than five decades, it would be her groundbreaking work in journalism that paved the way toward her success.
Florence ‘Flo’ Anthony’s Trailblazing Career
In the mid-‘80s, Florence became the first-ever African American woman to work as a journalist in the sports and entertainment sections for the New York Post. Her first publications were with the revered Page Six department. Soon after, Florence became the first-ever African American columnist to write for The National Examiner.
Before Florence’s media roots made her a pioneer in journalism, opening doors for those alike, she worked as a publicist for legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, FightNews reported.
Florence also worked as a publicist and manager for her Olympic gold-medalist husband, known as “Jinx” in the boxing industry. The couple, who formally married in January 2026, tied the knot after dating for more than forty years.
Within her remarkable career, Florence hosted Superadio’s nationally syndicated radio features “Gossip On The Go With Flo” and “Flo Anthony’s Big Apple Buzz.” Additionally, Florence published several books and was the CEO of her media company, Dottie Media Group. She was also a respected — and frequent — guest on many talk shows, including “The Ricki Lake Show,” “The Geraldo Show,” “The Gordon Elliott Show,” “The Bertice Berry Show,” and more.
