With Michael Strahan leaving his chair at Live! with Kelly and Michael, there’s been a raft of revisionism floating on the daytime TV ocean. What was once thought to be perfect chemistry between the pint-sized Ripa and her giant NFL Hall of Fame co-host is now being re-examined through a jaded lense — and tension is seen all over in retrospect. Ripa took a few unplanned days off after news of Strahan’s departure “blindsided” her and media watchers filled in the vacuum with rumors.
Her return to the show saw her refuse to allow Strahan to pull out her chair for her, as has been the custom for the duo since he joined the show in 2012. And the fiery Ripa has sparked a couple of quick burns, introducing a segment about divorce by bringing up Strahan’s recent one. But the juiciest rumor isn’t so much about the Ripa-Strahan feud, such as it is, but rather the way Ripa may have turned being “blindsided” into a big fat raise. With Strahan gone, she’s the lone name on the marquee and her representation wants her compensated accordingly. In fact, a Page Six story says Ripa’s mini-vacation-protest may have been a bargaining tactic. It quotes an “industry insider” saying “Ripa managed to parlay the recent scandal into a raise on her already hefty $20 million annual salary.” Scandal can be very good for business.
