It has been three years since Michael Strahan bid farewell to his co-hosting duties alongside Kelly Ripa on “Live with Kelly and Michael” to pursue a new opportunity at ABC’s Good Morning America. The news of Michael’s departure came as a shock to Kelly, creating an immediate rift between the once seemingly close on-screen duo.
In an exclusive interview with Time magazine, the former New York Giants defensive lineman disclosed that he and Kelly have not been in contact “for a long time.” This revelation is surprising, considering they once dominated the daytime talk show scene with their dynamic chemistry, which resonated with viewers and garnered high ratings.
Michael seized the opportunity to join Good Morning America as a co-host in 2016, leaving Kelly unaware of the impending change and understandably dissatisfied with how events unfolded. The rift between them became the talk of the town, and despite the passage of time, their relationship remains strained. Reflecting on their current state, Michael admitted, “I haven’t spoken to her in a long time.”
During his tenure on the show from 2012 to 2016, Michael also contributed to Good Morning America, starting in 2014. When the offer for a full-time co-hosting position at GMA arose, he recognized it as an incredible opportunity and accepted. However, he neglected to inform Kelly in advance, which further fueled her displeasure. Subsequently, Kelly took nearly a week off, officially labeled as a “pre-scheduled vacation” by ABC, immediately following Michael’s announcement.
Upon her return, Kelly indirectly addressed the situation by emphasizing the importance of communication, consideration, and respect in the workplace. Michael’s departure in May 2016 deviated from the originally announced departure date, leaving their professional relationship fractured. Reflecting on the aftermath, he gained a valuable insight: “I learned through all that went down with that, you can’t convince people to like you.”
Following Michael’s departure, “Live” experimented with various guest co-hosts before Ryan Seacrest assumed the role permanently about a year later. Meanwhile, Michael’s career remained on a busy trajectory, as he co-hosted the third hour of Good Morning America with Sara Haines, alongside his duties as co-host of “Fox NFL Sunday” and producer and star of the game show “The $100,000 Pyramid.”
In the realm of social media, Team Michael advocates flooded the comment sections, asserting their support for him. One commenter pointed out, “She is not as nice as she appears. She stopped talking to Regis, for goodness’ sake. Michael is a kind-hearted man. Don’t cross her!” Others questioned the level of involvement Kelly should have had in these discussions, with one remarking, “He doesn’t owe her anything… plain and simple.” Echoing this sentiment, another commenter stated, “I’m still wondering why she took offense to Michael leaving. It was a business decision. He didn’t owe her an explanation.”
Additional commenters shed light on the circumstances surrounding the fallout, as one individual explained, “The head of Disney instructed him not to disclose his move to GMA to avoid alerting the competition. When your boss tells you to stay silent, you comply.”
