Kelly Ripa has cold-shouldered Regis Philbin since the two said good-bye after working for a decade in a strained relationship on “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” the 85-year-old retired co-host told Larry King.
The two appeared to have a great on-air relationship as co-hosts, but Philbin, who left the show in 2011, says there’s not much of a relationship there anymore, said People magazine, suggesting that Ripa ends up having problems with all her co-hosts.
While on “Larry King Now,” which aired Tuesday, King asked Philbin if he still stays in contact with his former co-host.
“Not really, no,” said Philbin.
“She got very offended when I left. She thought I was leaving because of her,” he said. “I was leaving because I was getting older and it wasn’t right for me anymore.”
King responded: “She took it personal?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Philbin replied.
The show is now called “Live! With Kelly,” and ABC is still in search of a new co-host, according to CNN.
Despite being a draw for their talk show for nearly 30 years, Philbin said he has never been asked back.
“Never once did they ask me to go back,” Philbin told King.
After Philbin left the show in 2011, he was replaced by NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, noted Fox News.
However, Strahan and Ripa’s relationship turned rocky last year when she learned her co-host was leaving the show for “Good Morning America.”
At the time, Ripa had an issue with the fact that Strahan hadn’t formally told her that he was leaving.
“At one point I think we were friends. I don’t know what happened at the end. I learned a lot from her, though,” Strahan said in September, according to People.
Ripa joined Philbin’s show in 2001.
Philbin said on the day of their final episode together, he told Ripa that “Every morning, I’ll think about this,” per People.
“Thank you for everything,” Ripa responded as her eyes filled with tears. “I love you.”