Kelly Ripa opened up about colleague Michael Strahan in an
interview with People magazine about the fallout that ensued after he abruptly announced his departure from "Live! With Kelly and Michael."
Ripa was blindsided last month by news that Strahan was leaving the show for a full-time gig on "Good Morning America." Ripa learned about the change the day before it was officially announced during the April 20 broadcast.
While saying she is "excited" for Strahan, Ripa added, "People deserve respect. People should be treated equally and with dignity."
"I get it. We're excited for Michael. He wanted that job, and it's great for him. I think it is a perfect match, I really do. However, what nobody considered is there's a whole other group of people that it really impacts, because we have to now find another great person," Ripa told People magazine.
Shortly after the announcement, she took the rest the week off after learning of Strahan's coming departure.
"I think what people need to understand about the entire situation is that I didn't just not show up," she told People. "I said, in the room, 'I am going to take the day off.' I needed to actually sit and gather information. I needed to make sure I said the appropriate things on TV and didn't just come out and say whatever."
She said she understands that "things happen," comparing the show to a family, where formality and consideration sometimes fall away as relationships grow more comfortable. But she said she didn't want to be misinterpreted as passive.
"People make mistakes, and we're all human," she said. "They're human and I'm human. We all have these moments, and it's about how you move forward and how you begin again."
Friday is set to be Strahan's last day on the show.
TMZ described the recent atmosphere as "frigid."
"Although they're putting on a good face on the air -- we're told the tension between them is palpable," the celebrity gossip site said.
Strahan was originally slated to remain on the show till September,
E! Online reported.
The earlier departure "not only gives the show the chance to have a nice send-off for him during the May book, but to also immediately begin the on-air search for a new co-host," a show spokesperson told E! News. "This plan also allows GMA to start integrating Michael into the show more often this summer before his full-time start in September."
Many Twitter users weighed in on the drama.
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