Kelly Ripa Receives Apology From ABC: Has She Spoken To Michael Strahan?
Kelly Ripa has received a huge apology from ABC execs. Reports came in that TV Group President Ben Sherwood apologized to both Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan for the way that the shocking news of Strahan’s Good Morning America promotion was handled last week.
Kelly Ripa has not yet returned to Live! With Kelly and Michael since Tuesday, April 19, when she was reportedly “blindsided” by the news of Strahan leaving the daytime talk show to join the morning news show full-time starting in September.
According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, several sources claim that Sherwood and his associates have reached out to both Ripa and Strahan to apologize for the way that Strahan’s exit was handled. The report does not indicate when or how ABC apologized to Ripa, who was obviously frustrated when she was absent from the rest of the week and embarked on a pre-planned anniversary vacation with her husband Mark Consuelos.
At the end of Wednesday’s broadcast, Strahan thanked Ripa for the four years that they worked together.
“I really want to thank of course Kelly Ripa because Kelly welcomed me here and I’ve learned so much from her. She’s been an amazing influence on me and it has truly changed my life to be here with her. I know that the show will continue to be strong and great because of Kelly and Michael Gelman and the staff here. Everybody is so talented and this show has not been around for over 30 years by mistake… Kelly, I thank you and I love you and everyone else here at Live.”
But Ripa and Strahan won’t be talking until they hit the stage on Tuesday, April 26, according to E! Online’s sources. Daytime viewers have been on the edge of their seats, waiting to see when they will see Ripa and Strahan together again. An insider close to the show claims that the two have not spoken to each other since early last week, but have been talking via text message.
“It’s been simple,” the source revealed. “Very cordial.”
Also, Ripa and Strahan have not planned to meet up before Tuesday’s live show in New York City. The insider revealed that “They are just going in and doing it tomorrow,” probably so that their talk comes off organically for the both viewers in the audience and at home.
Another source added about what else viewers can also expect: “Anything that will come out of Michael’s mouth in public will be happy and upbeat about Kelly.”
On Monday’s live taping of LIVE!, Strahan expressed his excitement about Ripa returning to the show tomorrow morning. Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell filled in as guest host while Ripa was celebrating her wedding anniversary.
Last week, various reports surfaced about Ripa’s rumored diva antics. According to TMZ, the LIVE! crew was feeling fearful over the future of their jobs. Sources claimed that Ripa was “dodging” Strahan’s constant calls and “threw a fit” on set when she learned that he was leaving the show. The Wrap shared a report claiming that “Ripa is having a diva-like fit of pique.”
Sources told Variety that Ripa was so angry at ABC executives after they tried to talk to her, Strahan, and the show’s staff to confirm that Strahan would end his run in four months and then make his move to GMA.
“Ripa was angry after ABC executives gathered her, Strahan and the show’s staff together at the end of Tuesday’s taping to reveal that Strahan would end his run at ‘Live’ in four months, then move full time to ‘GMA.’ Immediately afterward, the network announced the move publicly. That night, Strahan received a call from the show telling him that Ripa would not be coming to work the next day.”
So expect some obvious tension and awkward interaction between Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on tomorrow’s show. Will you be tuning in to see what happens? Sound off below in the comments section.
[Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival]
