Recently, Michael Strahan opened up about his strained friendship with Kelly Ripa

In a recent interview with Time magazine, former NFL player Michael Strahan discussed his difficult friendship with his former co-host, Kelly Ripa. The announcement comes three years after he abruptly left their famous daytime talk program, “Live with Kelly and Michael,” to join ABC’s “Good Morning.

Michael’s departure stunned Kelly and their viewers. The dynamic couple, noted for their on-screen chemistry and smart banter, appeared to be on opposite sides of a failing friendship. Their fallout sparked headlines and left admirers wondering what went wrong.

Reflecting on the aftermath, Michael revealed that their relationship remained unmended and they hadn’t spoken in a while. From 2012 to 2016, the former New York Giants defensive lineman presented the show with Kelly. During this period, their once-thriving relationship took a terrible blow.

Michael’s choice to join “Good Morning America” without alerting Kelly ahead of time, leaving her feeling caught off guard, was a major reason for their troubled relationship. She even took a nearly one-week absence, which ABC described as a “pre-scheduled vacation,” immediately following his revelation. When Kelly returned, she highlighted the value of workplace communication, attention, and respect.

Michael’s departure from “Live” resulted in a revolving roster of guest co-hosts until Ryan Seacrest took over as permanent successor around a year later. Meanwhile, Michael’s career has taken off across several platforms, including co-hosting the third hour of “Good Morning America,” contributing to the famous “Fox NFL Sunday” show, and anchoring the game show “The $100,000 Pyramid.”

Although Michael and Kelly’s breakup may have created a gap in their relationship, it’s clear that many individuals still support Michael. Commenters on social media have offered their support for him, with one saying, “Michael is a nice man.” “Don’t cross her!” Some argue that Michael did not owe Kelly any explanations for his job choices; as one user stated, “He doesn’t owe her anything. Plain and simple.”

While the exact causes of the tension in Michael and Kelly’s relationship are unknown, one commenter offered some insight on the matter. According to them, “the head of Disney requested that he not reveal his move to ‘Good Morning America’ to avoid alerting the competition.” When your employer orders you to be quiet, you do.

Finally, the unforeseen feud between the two once-favorite presenters serves as a reminder that relationships can be complicated, even in the realm of television. After three years, Michael Strahan boldly shares his truth, restoring hope for their relationship.