Kelly Ripa has been noticeably absent from her daytime talk show after Tuesday’s announcement that co-host Michael Strahan will be leaving Live with Kelly and Michael in the fall.
In September, the former football player turned television personality will become co-anchor of Good Morning America.
On Wednesday morning’s Live with Kelly and Michael, Strahan discussed his departure from the show, but Kelly was nowhere in sight. She also took Thursday off.
READ MORE: Michael Strahan is leaving ‘Live with Kelly and Michael’
A report in Variety suggests Ripa was told her co-host was leaving the show only minutes before the news was released to the public. The 45-year-old is said to feel like she did not receive enough notice of the departure from Disney executives or Strahan, who she’s worked with for four years.
As a result, the Daily Mail reports the mom to three “will not go back” to the morning show until Strahan leaves for his new gig.
They quote a source as saying, “Kelly isn’t making any demands. She is very hurt that Disney hasn’t even spoken to her yet so they are assuming that she isn’t coming back… She wants to wait and see what happens. She’d also like someone to do the right thing and speak to her face to face rather than plot and plan behind her back.'”
For his part, Strahan released a statement saying,
“My time with Live with Kelly and Michael has been transformative, and my departure will be bittersweet. Kelly has been an unbelievable partner, and I am so thankful to her and the entire team. I am extremely grateful for the amazing support I’ve received from all of the fans.”
The former NFLer also gave a shout-out to his co-star on Wednesday’s show.
“I really want to thank, of course, Kelly Ripa. Kelly welcomed me here and I’ve learned so much from her and she’s just been an amazing influence on me and this has truly changed my life to be here with her. I know that the show will continue to be strong and great because of Kelly and Michael Gelman and the staff here because everybody is so talented. This show has not been around for over 30 years by mistake. Kelly, I thank you. I love you… and I’m not going to cry on TV mama, I promise you.”
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An ABC spokesperson addressed Ripa’s absence calling it “a previously scheduled vacation.” Kelly did not reference the vacation on air in the days leading up to her absence from the show.
The former soap star now faces a possible situation much like the one she faced five years ago when Regis Philbin announced he was leaving Live – the search for his replacement lasted nine months.
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The show will likely repeat the same audition process whereby Strahan’s replacement will be chosen through a series of on-air tryouts.
Fans on social media have been deliberating who the possible new co-host could be for the past few days:
Who would be the perfect replacement for Michael Strahan on Live with Kelly and Michael? If you ask me, look no further than Terry Crews.
— Barry Schwartz (@SupernovaLox) April 21, 2016
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Ripa joined the show in 2001, replacing Kathy Lee Gifford and has developed a loyal following of her own.
Social media has been following along with the daytime drama as fans wait for Kelly’s return:
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