Kelly Ripa just celebrated her 50th birthday and took a look back on her life, including her co-hosting Live! stint with Michael Strahan.
Ripa and Strahan hosted Live! With Kelly and Michael together from 2012 to 2016 and she felt “blindsided” by his departure and is still nursing her frustration over his lack of “respect,” over how his exit was handled.
“I didn’t kick up a fuss; it wasn’t a big thing; I was just like, I’m not doing this. If I’m not worthy of a discussion, if I’m not worthy of you running this conversation by me — it was outrageous,” Ripa recently told Variety.
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Strahan hasn’t responded to her latest comments but has been booked and busy since they last worked together. The former New York Giants football star didn’t disappear from the airwaves. In many ways, he’s more visible than his former colleague.
Strahan left Live! four years ago to become the weekday morning assignment anchor on Good Morning America, joining Robin Roberts and Stephanopoulos. His smile with the famous gap tooth and cheerful persona have greeted viewers since 2016.
“It is an exciting opportunity to be able to bring unique stories and voices to the audience,” Strahan said at the time.
The success of Strahan on GMA led to the creation of Strahan & Sara in 2018. It then became GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke when actress KeKe Palmer joined GMA’s third hour. However, the coronavirus impacted the show and it was canceled over the summer.
“I knew if our show did come back, it would have to be much, much, much later, because our show is really about an audience,” Palmer said in August. “That’s what we do. We do a little bit of news, but it’s entertainment news. It’s fun conversations and lightheartedness, and we’re in a different time now. Some of the conversation has changed, and that pushed SSK out. So I expected it.”
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Since Strahan knows how to juggle bags, he’s not without opportunities to expand his growing brand as the host of ABC’s rebooted game show The $100,000 Pyramid. The show is produced by Strahan’s SMAC Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television and exec produced by Strahan among others. Deadline reported in August that the show resumed filming and is following proper COVID-19 protocol.
Sports is also never too far from the mind of the retired pro athlete who won a championship in Super Bowl XLII. The former defensive end is an analyst on FOX NFL Thursday which just returned for its third season last week.
On all these broadcasts, Strahan has made sure to look his dapper best. It only made sense for him to parlay his fashion into the launch of MSX by Michael Strahan for NFL which is an athleisure collection. Some of the items include hoodies and long sleeves that bear the colors and logos of the 32 NFL teams.
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“I’m thrilled to continue my partnership with the NFL and G-III Apparel and expand the MSX by Michael Strahan brand with apparel for all 32 teams,” Strahan spoke of the new line in September. “Now more than ever, I think it’s important that fans all over the country can show their team pride and feel that sense of unity no matter where they’re watching the game!”
You’ve also seen Strahan as an Oscars red carpet correspondent and hosting the hosted Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports Awards more than once. The television personality is also dabbling as an executive producer for Religion of Sports and Last Chance U which is about players and their coaches.
Strahan’s professional life has been the busiest in the second incarnation of his career. There’s been no reason to look back.
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