NEW YORK, April 22 (UPI) — Kelly Ripa is weathering recent “Live!” drama with the support of Mark Consuelos and Regis Philbin.
Consuelos, who married Ripa in 1996, and Philbin, who co-hosted “Live! with Regis and Kelly” with Ripa from 2001 to 2011, showed their support for the 45-year-old TV personality Thursday following word of Michael Strahan‘s unexpected “Live!” departure.
Consuelos re-tweeted a fan comment thanking “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent Cameron Mathison for his remarks on Ripa. The post reads, “@CameronMathison Thanks for your comments on ET about @KellyRipa and @Mark Consuelos. I’m sure they value your friendship and loyalty.”
Ripa and Mathison co-starred as Hayley Vaughan and Ryan Alvery on the ABC soap opera “All My Children” from 1997 to 2002. Mathison also expressed interest in replacing Strahan by re-tweeting fan comments recommending him as co-host.
Philbin, meanwhile, said Ripa deserved more of a heads-up about Strahan’s exit in a video obtained by TMZ. ABC reportedly kept Ripa and other staff members in the dark about Strahan’s departure to prevent leaks.
“They should have told her in the beginning,” Philbin said. “[I think she got back-doored] to a degree. I can’t tell because I’m not there.” The former “Live!” host also said he wouldn’t be interested in returning to the talk show if asked.
Strahan had nothing but good things to say about Ripa when he confirmed his exit on Wednesday’s episode of “Live!” Ripa was reportedly “livid” about the news and hasn’t appeared on the talk show since word broke Tuesday.
Ripa and Consuelos jetted off to Turks and Caicos for a planned 20th anniversary vacation amid the drama. Sources told People magazine Strahan’s departure is “hanging over [Kelly] as she goes to celebrate this milestone.”
