Kelly Ripa returned as co-host of her morning talk show after a four-day absence after ABC announced Tuesday that co-host Michael Strahan (right) will leave the show to join “Good Morning America” full-time.

Kelly Ripa returned as co-host of her morning talk show after a four-day absence after ABC announced Tuesday that co-host Michael Strahan (right) will leave the show to join “Good Morning America” full-time.

Kelly Ripa returns, says flap over Michael Strahan is settled

Kelly Ripa returned to her daytime talk show Tuesday after time off to “gather (her) thoughts” after learning her co-host Michael Strahan was leaving, saying the incident had started a conversation about workplace respect.

She also said her bosses had apologized to her, and she’d received assurances that the “Live with Kelly and Michael” show was important to the parent Walt Disney Co.

“Guys, calm down, they didn’t say anything about Christmas bonuses,” she joked after the audience applauded.

Ripa was reportedly upset that she learned only a few minutes before the public last Tuesday that Strahan, her co-host since 2012, was leaving in September for a full-time job with ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He works part-time on the morning news show now and executives there are looking for a way to turn around fading ratings.

Ripa skipped Wednesday and Thursday’s show, and said she had a scheduled vacation Friday and Monday.

“I needed a couple of days to gather my thoughts,” she said after returning to a standing ovation from the audience. “After 26 years with this company, I’ve earned that right.”

She said the time helped her gain some perspective and that “apologies have been made.” She didn’t say who apologized and ABC officials haven’t publicly admitted to blowing the transition.

“What happened was extraordinary,” she said. “It started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration and, most importantly, respect in the workplace. I don’t consider this a workplace. This is my second home.”

The former soap opera actress has been co-host of “Live” since 2001, first with Regis Philbin and then with Strahan. Besides the lack of communication that Ripa took issue with, the shifting of Strahan to take advantage of his popularity on “Good Morning America” sent an unmistakable message about which show was more important to ABC’s bottom line.

Yet the network surely didn’t anticipate the drama would play out in the media or how it would raise questions about when — or if — Ripa would return. ABC did not immediately comment Tuesday on Ripa’s statements.

She walked hand-in-hand with Strahan onto the stage of her show Tuesday, and Strahan swiftly let his co-host stand alone to talk about the incident.

“I am fairly certain that there are trained professional snipers with tranquilizer darts in case I drift too far off message,” said Ripa, who appeared emotionally taken aback by the audience response.

Strahan, when she was done, said he was happy Ripa was back.

“If there’s one thing I know about you, you love the show, you love the staff, you love your fans and I love you,” Strahan said. “You’re the queen of morning television.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.