“She said she didn’t need to meet”: Kelly Ripa’s Diva Behavior Drove Away Co-Host Michael Strahan, Left ABC Terrified That She Would Ruin Talk Show
Kelly Ripa and the former NFL star Michael Strahan had a good run together as co-hosts for ABC’s Live With Kelly and Michael. The duo hosted the show for four years from 2012 to April 2016. The former New York Giants defensive end announced his departure after he was offered a full-time role at Good Morning America. However, his co-host was not happy to be the last one to know about his departure. The talk show host went missing from her show and allegedly stopped taking calls from Strahan and ABC executives. When she finally returned to the show after a four-day absence, ABC bosses were concerned about how she would react to the news on live television.
ABC Executives Feared Kelly Ripa Would Go Rogue on Live TV
After missing work for four days, Kelly Ripa returned to the talk show. However, ABC executives were worried about how she would react to Strahan’s departure from the show. Sources revealed that she was not happy to be the last one to hear the news.
According to sources, the American actress refused to talk to her co-host and the ABC executives after learning that Michael Strahan has decided to leave the show. However, things did not go as everyone expected. She once again joined Strahan on Live With Kelly and Michael and addressed Strahan’s exit from the show in front of a live audience. Ripa said she was “thrilled” for the former NFL star.
“What transpired, though over the course of a few days has been extraordinary, in the sense that it started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration, and most importantly respect in the workplace.”
Sources claimed that Ripa felt overshadowed by her co-host. Many reports also claimed that the co-hosts “have not been getting on for a while.” And things became even worse when Strahan joined Good Morning America as a part-time correspondent. Kelly Ripa also addressed her absence from the show saying that she needed some time to gather her thoughts.
Michael Strahan Hoped For a Better Departure From the Show
Followed by his departure from Live With Kelly and Michael, the former NFL star shared that his departure from the show “could have been handled better.” He said that he learned so much from his co-host, Kelly Ripa, and Michael Gelman (executive producer).
Strahan shared that he was offered a job and he accepted it, but still he was treated like he was the one who “walked in and said, ‘I’m leaving.'” He also shared that he tried to organize meetings with Ripa before “she said she didn’t need to meet.”
Strahan went on to praise Kelly Ripa for being good at her job saying that he respects her. He joined Ripa one last time on Live With Kelly and Michael on May 13, 2016. Kelly Ripa continued to host the show before Ryan Seacrest joined her as co-host and the show became Live with Kelly and Ryan.
Source: Page Six
