When a face is on your TV screen every night for two decades, you start to feel like you know them. You know their quirks, their catchphrases, and maybe even the way they squint when they’re about to deliver bad news. For Detroiters, that face was often Hank Winchester.
He was the "Help Me Hank" guy. The one who went to bat for consumers. But lately, the conversation around the former WDIV reporter hasn’t been about consumer advocacy or scam alerts. It’s been about his private life. Specifically, people keep asking: is Hank Winchester gay?
The short answer? Yes.
Hank Winchester is an openly gay man, a fact that has been public for years, though it wasn’t always the headline of his career. He has been remarkably candid about his life, his family, and his struggles. He’s lived a very public life in Michigan, which means his relationships—both the happy ones and the messy ones—have often played out in the local spotlight.
Who is Hank Winchester?
Before diving into the "is Hank Winchester gay" question, it’s worth remembering why people care in the first place. Winchester was a staple at WDIV (Local 4) in Detroit for 24 years. He won Emmys. He tackled everything from government corruption to neighborhood disputes. He was the guy you called when nobody else would listen.
Beyond the newsroom, he became known for his friendship with Kelly Stafford, wife of former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. He’s a regular on her podcast, The Morning After, where he often shares bits of his personal reality that don't make it into a two-minute news segment.
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The Reality of His Relationships
There’s no "hiding" here. Winchester has been married to a man and has spoken about his divorce openly.
He was previously married to Jeff Grim. The two even shared a daughter, Emma. You might have seen photos of them together years ago, often alongside the Staffords. In fact, a 2021 piece on ClickOnDetroit featured photos of Winchester, his then-husband, and their daughter spending time with the Stafford family. It was just... normal.
But like many marriages, it didn’t last. Winchester has described his divorce as one of the hardest periods of his life. He’s lumped it in with other major traumas, like losing both of his parents and surviving a battle with testicular cancer.
Recently, reports surfaced that he was dating Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Cunningham. While the current status of their relationship is a bit of a question mark in the tabloids, it’s clear that Winchester’s life is firmly rooted in the LGBTQ+ community.
The 2024 Controversy and WDIV Exit
You can't really talk about Hank Winchester right now without mentioning why he’s no longer on Channel 4.
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In the summer of 2024, Winchester was the subject of a criminal investigation. It was a bizarre story involving a Facebook Marketplace sale, a leather sofa, and an unlicensed massage. A man accused Winchester of making unwanted sexual advances during a massage session at Winchester's home.
Police raided his house. They took cameras and laptops. He was off the air for nine weeks.
Eventually, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file charges. They said there wasn't evidence to support a crime. Winchester’s lawyers even pointed out that the accuser had some questionable social media history. Winchester himself took two polygraph tests and passed both.
He was cleared, but the damage was done. Shortly after being cleared, Winchester was fired from WDIV. The station never gave a specific reason—Michigan is an at-will employment state, after all—but the "is Hank Winchester gay" searches spiked during this time because the investigation put his private life under a microscope.
Why the Curiosity Persists
Honestly, people are nosy. That’s the reality of local celebrity. When you see a reporter in your living room every night, you feel entitled to the details of their Christmas cards.
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For a long time, Winchester was the "safe" consumer guy. When the details of his divorce or his dating life surfaced during a police investigation, it shattered the "Help Me Hank" persona for some viewers. For others, it was just a reminder that he’s a human being with a complicated life.
Moving Forward
Winchester hasn't disappeared. He’s still active on the podcast circuit and continues to be a public figure in Detroit. He’s a "dog dad," a father to his daughter, and a cancer survivor.
If you were looking for the truth behind the rumors, there it is. He’s a man who has lived out loud in a city that isn’t always kind to its public figures. Whether he returns to TV or sticks to the podcast world, the "Help Me Hank" era of Detroit news has certainly changed forever.
What to Keep in Mind
If you're following this story or others like it, remember that "cleared of charges" and "fired" are two different things. While the legal system found no wrongdoing, the court of public opinion—and corporate HR—often operates on its own set of rules.
- Check the sources: Stick to local outlets like The Detroit Metro Times or Deadline Detroit for the most granular updates on local media personalities.
- Support consumer advocacy: Regardless of how you feel about his personal life, the work Winchester did for Detroiters was significant. Look for new consumer advocates in the area to fill that gap.
- Stay updated: If you're a fan of his personality, his podcast appearances remain the best place to hear his side of the story directly.
The story of Hank Winchester is a reminder that behind every "Help Me" segment is a person navigating their own world, for better or worse.