For some, the first week of September marks a new school year. For Michael Strahan, it marks the first week at his new hosting gig on “Good Morning America.”
On Tuesday, roughly four months after the football player-turned-morning-show-host left “Live with Kelly and Michael,” Strahan made his debut as a full-time host on “GMA.” Fellow hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos excitedly welcomed their new colleague, garnering applause from the studio audience.
Strahan shocked fans of “Live” when he announced back in April that he’d be leaving his post as Kelly Ripa’s co-host. The 44-year-old spent almost four years at the show before officially leaving on May 13. During that time, he was tapped as a correspondent for “GMA,” where he appeared twice a week for about two years before being offered a full-time spot.
When Strahan left “Live,” he said in a statement, “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.”
Strahan’s departure came as a surprise to many, including, it seemed, Ripa herself. Reports surfaced that the longtime morning show host was blindsided by Strahan’s departure, and following his announcement, she fueled rumors by taking a few days off from the show.
Ripa eventually addressed the drama surrounding her absence and Strahan’s exit on the air in late April, saying she just needed “a couple days to gather my thoughts.”
“In that time I gained some perspective. I always speak from the heart. I didn’t want to come out here and just say something I might regret,” she added. “So what transpired over the course of a few days has been extraordinary in the sense that it started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration, and most importantly, respect in the workplace.”
We hope things between Ripa and Strahan are now settled.
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