The announcement came as a bombshell, leading to speculation and headlines about a strained relationship between the two hosts…
Michael Strahan revealed three years ago that he was leaving his daytime talk show co-host with Kelly Ripa on “Live with Kelly and Michael” to take a new job at ABC’s Good Morning America. Word immediately spread that Kelly was taken aback by the statement, causing a sudden schism between the two, who had previously appeared to be pals on TV.
The former New York Giants quarterback revealed in a new interview with Time magazine that he and Kelly “had not been in touch for a long time.”
It’s surprising because they dominated the daytime chat scene with their fun chemistry and banter, earning them high ratings.
Michael accepted the Good Morning America co-hosting gig in 2016 and it was rumored that Kelly had no idea what was going on and was unhappy with how things were going.
Michael added that their feud made headlines and that despite the fact that their relationship was suffering at the time, nothing was fixed. He said, “I haven’t spoken to her in a long time.”
Michael co-hosted the show with Kelly from 2012 to 2016 and has also been a contributor to GMA since 2014.
When GMA offered him a full-time co-host role, he recognized it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and accepted. He apparently didn’t give Kelly advance notice, and she took a nearly week-long vacation, which ABC described as a “pre-planned vacation,” the day after Michael’s announcement.
Kelly appeared to address the issue upon her return, talking about “communication and consideration” and “respect in the workplace.”
Michael left the show in May 2016, months before the official departure date. He remarked on his broken relationship with Kelly: “I’ve learned from everything that’s happened with it that you can’t make people like you.”
After his departure, “Live” had a number of guest co-hosts before Ryan Seacrest took over the position permanently about a year later.
Michael is a busy man: he co-hosts GMA’s Third Hour with Sara Haines, co-hosts “Fox NFL Sunday” and is the producer and star of the game show “$100,000 Pyramid.”
Among the myriad comments posted on social media are those who are firmly on Team Michael. “She’s not as nice as she looks,” one person commented. She stopped talking to Regis for God’s sake. Michael is a nice person. “Don’t get in her way!”
Others questioned Kelly’s participation in these chats, with one commenter stating: “She doesn’t owe her anything…plain and simple.”
“I still wonder why she’s offended that MS is leaving,” another commenter agreed. It was a business transaction. He owed her no explanation.”
Other commentators explained why things turned out the way they did, with one noting that “the Disney boss asked him not to tell anyone he was moving him to GMA so as not to alert the competition.” If your employer orders you to be quiet, obey.”
Interestingly, there are also comments reflecting an understanding of the complexity at play. Some commentators noted that the decision to keep Strahan’s move under wraps until the last minute was likely influenced by corporate strategy and competition. In this perspective, Strahan may have been following instructions from his superiors and not revealing the move sooner.
Ultimately, the revelation that Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa haven’t spoken in years sheds light on the challenges of navigating the entertainment industry spotlight and the interpersonal dynamics that can be strained by career moves and corporate decisions. As the discourse continues, it’s a reminder that there’s often more to a story than meets the eye, and empathy is essential to understanding the complexities of these relationships.
Former NY Giants Defensive End. 😉
Quite the opposite of being a QB.