Kelly Ripa is one of the top stars of morning television with a massive Live With Kelly & Ryan following and much respect from her peers.
But her life was not always so bright, she said. Variety this week when she graced the cover of their Power Of Women issue.
When the 52-year-old started at Live With Regis & Kelly in 2001 after Kathy Lee Gifford left, she didn’t get any kind of VIP treatment.
Instead, the former soap opera actress, who opened up about her marriage earlier this week, had to use the janitor’s closet to do her paperwork and was forced to use a public bathroom with the 250 audience members, which It was awkward, especially when there was a line.
“I had a really tough time,” Ripa told the publication.
Straight talk: Kelly Ripa is one of the top stars of morning television with a massive Live With Kelly & Ryan following and a lot of respect from her peers. But her life wasn’t always so bright, she told Variety this week when she graced the cover of its Power of Women issue.
Ripa revealed that she had to try really hard to get some privacy.
In 2001, when she was hired to live, she was told that she couldn’t have her own office.
But there were empty office spaces in the building that he could easily have used.
He added that he was told the gaps were reserved for executives visiting from Los Angeles.
Then four years later, in 2005, they gave him a janitor’s closet which they cleaned out and put in a desk.
It was clearly a way to keep his ego in check.
She thought she might finally have her own office when her co-star Regis, who died in 2020, retired from the show in 2011.
But that didn’t happen.
Did he speak for her? When he started at Live With Regis & Kelly in 2001 after Kathy Lee Gifford left, he didn’t get any kind of VIP treatment. Instead, the former soap opera actress had to use the janitor’s closet, and she was forced to use a public bathroom with audience members, which was awkward.
Instead, Philbin’s office was left empty.
“They said, ‘Oh no, we’re saving that.’ And I said, “Keep it for what?” she commented.
And they say, “Well, by the time the new one comes.” And I looked at them and I said, “I’m the new guy,” he said.
Kelly did not get the go-ahead to take over. So instead she pushed her way towards him.
‘All those offices that weren’t available to me suddenly became available [to others]with walls knocked down to make them twice as big,’ he added.
Later: “I had a really tough time,” Ripa told the publication. Ripa revealed that she had to try really hard to get some privacy.
Just sad: in 2001, when she was hired to live, she was told she couldn’t have her own office. But there were empty office spaces in the building that she could easily have used. She added that she was told the gaps were reserved for executives; seen in 2011
“It was fascinating for me to watch: the need to make the new guy feel comfortable and respected, but he couldn’t use those offices. I had to use the broom closet.
And when I had to use the bathroom, I had to go out to the main one where the public went.
‘We have a studio audience, like 250 people! — And I have to queue,’ she explained.
“Particularly when I was pregnant, it was extraordinarily tiring to have to wait in line.
Unequal Pay: Ryan Seacrest is now leaving the show. And her husband Marc Consuelos will intervene. She also mentioned the pay disparity. Ripa said her spouse was paid much more than she was paid when they co-starred in a soap opera together decades ago. Seen with Ryan and Mark on March 12
“I have to host the show and I’m still waiting in line to use the bathroom,” he said. It just seemed like, you know, a very unnecessarily difficult situation.
So who does she blame? The network because they did not keep it the same.
Ryan Seacrest is now leaving the show. And her husband Mark Consuelos will intervene.
He also mentioned the pay gap.
Ripa said her spouse was paid far more than she was paid when they co-starred in a soap opera together decades ago.
‘Always. And it started years after I started,” she said of their time together on All My Children.
‘It wasn’t until I got what we call my ‘fancy job’ that I started making more money than him. We’ve been together so long that it’s always been collective money. We are very old-fashioned in that sense.