“I did not have an easy time”: Kelly Ripa Reveals ABC Made Her Life Hell by Keeping Her in the Dark About Michael Strahan’s Exit as Co-Host Didn’t Even Notify Her
Kelly Ripa is one of the most successful daytime talk show hosts ever. And she had to work her way up and fight for it, despite making a decent name for herself in her early days. Well, Kelly Ripa being a woman is no exception to the misogyny that goes on behind the lens. The success of ‘Live!’ is all her contribution, no matter how many times the co-hosts changed she was the one true constant. She is what the audience got back to time and again, a familiar face to greet them every morning.
Now she is a $120 million star, but the world wasn’t her oyster always. Despite being treated poorly by ABC, she continued to stay just for the sake of professionalism. In a very recent Variety’s Power of Women cover interview she revealed some shocking details about the media giant.
Kelly Ripa was kept in the dark
The actress, talk-show host, and mother of three, Kelly Ripa has been in the industry for quite some time now, 22 years to be exact. During her tenure, she had to face many misogynistic internal politics that time and again showed her place in the industry. She narrates one such incident while talking to Variety. While sharing her thoughts on her co-host for almost six years, Ryan Seacrest’s departure from the show.
She recollects the moment she heard the news. It brought her PTSD, as it was not the first time it was happening to her. But on the other hand, she was glad, she was kept in the loop and was included in the discussion. Upon being asked about the reason for her stress by her husband and Ryan Secrest, she replied,
“And I said to them, ‘You have to forgive me. I have a little PTSD.’”
As it turns out, in 2016 her co-host Michael Strahan’s departure news was kept hidden from her completely. The executives of the show did not even bother to include her in the conversation about the future of the show. She then later found out the network offered Strahan for anchoring Good Morning America.
This sure was enough to make her leave the show, but her long-time friend Ryan Seacrest joining the cast immediately after is what made her stay. She is now one of the most loved television personalities bringing in large numbers for the very network that mistreated her.
Kelly Ripa’s future plans with ‘Live!’
Ripa wants a break, she definitely wants to retire but not soon enough. She admitted Seacrest’s departure would have also marked her retirement but her husband, Mark Consuelos joining the cast will make her stick around for a few more years. This will be the fourth new co-host she has had during her reign at Live! She also hopes to train future generations of hosts. Ripa thinks it is high time to put the spotlight on some new young faces aspiring to be as big as her in the industry. On the topic of her retirement, she said,
“I don’t want to put a timeline on it,”
And then further added,
“But I do believe there is a great opportunity to get two younger people and start training them, because I like seamless transitions. However long it takes to get two people up and ready is how long we’ll be there.”
Although she does not want to exit the entertainment world completely and is ready to take on new adventures. She shared, she would love to write scripts and be more involved in the duties behind the camera. Kelly Ripa is undoubtedly one of the most beloved women in the industry and her impact on the entertainment world has paved the path for many such young women.
Also Read: Kelly Ripa Leaving $120M ‘Live’ Career For Skincare Product Line Rumor Debunked
Source: Variety
