In an exclusive interview with Time magazine, former NFL star Michael Strahan recently revealed that he and his former co-host Kelly Ripa haven’t spoken “in a long time.” This confession comes three years after he left their popular daytime talk show, “Live with Kelly and Michael,” to join ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
The news of Michael’s departure was a shock to Kelly and their audiences alike. The once harmonious duo, known for their on-screen chemistry and witty banter, now seemed to be on opposite sides of a crumbling friendship. Their fallout grabbed headlines and left fans wondering what went wrong.
Describing the aftermath, Michael said, “Nothing has really been repaired. I haven’t spoken to her in a long time.” The former New York Giants defensive lineman, who co-hosted the show with Kelly from 2012 to 2016, admitted that their once-thriving relationship suffered a major blow during this time.
When the opportunity arose for Michael to co-host “Good Morning America” in 2016, he didn’t inform Kelly beforehand, leaving her feeling blindsided. She even took a nearly one-week leave, which ABC called a “pre-scheduled vacation,” right after his announcement. Upon her return, Kelly emphasized the importance of “communication and consideration” as well as “respect in the workplace.”
Michael’s decision to leave “Live” earlier than initially planned in May 2016 led to a series of guest co-hosts filling his spot until Ryan Seacrest eventually became his permanent replacement about a year later. Meanwhile, Michael’s career has taken off across multiple platforms, including co-hosting the third hour of “Good Morning America” and working on the popular “Fox NFL Sunday” show and the game show “The $100,000 Pyramid.”
Though the rift between Michael and Kelly may have left a void in their partnership, it appears that many people still support Michael. Commenters on social media have expressed their loyalty, with one person stating, “She is not as nice as she appears. She stopped talking to Regis for goodness sake. Michael is a nice man. Do not cross her!” Others believe that Michael didn’t owe Kelly any explanations about his career decisions, as one commenter noted, “He doesn’t owe her anything…plain and simple.”
While the true reasons behind Michael and Kelly’s strained relationship remain largely undisclosed, one commenter shed some light on the situation. According to them, “the head of Disney asked him not to tell anyone he was moving him to ‘Good Morning America’ to avoid alerting the competition. When your boss tells you to keep quiet, you keep quiet.”
In the end, this unexpected fallout between two once-beloved hosts reminds us that relationships can be complex, even in the world of television. As Michael Strahan revealed his truth after three years, it’s clear that their rapport is yet to be restored.
