Michael Strahan must be living in a parallel universe, because for some odd reason, he’s under the impression that he and Kelly Ripa should still be friends.
In a new interview with People, the former NFL player and former “Live With Kelly and Michael” co-host opened up about leaving the show, but conveniently left out the part where he blindsided Ripa with his announcement before going public with it. Ripa, hurt by the news, then refused to show up to work.
“I wasn’t surprised by her reaction at all, but I can’t control somebody else’s actions,” Strahan said. “I was there four years, and it’s about more than just being in front of the camera.”
While his decision to leave Ripa in the dark was made with a few other execs, the 44-year-old now seems upset that the split painted him as the one in the wrong (hint: he was).
“Toward the end of it all, we didn’t really communicate that much,” Strahan said. “I kinda looked at it like, ‘It was what it was.’ I come from a business where you have to collaborate. The show was going well? We’re all winning. That’s all that matters to me.”
The former New York Giants player added, “In football, New York is the toughest place to play. One day you’re the greatest player they’ve ever seen, then the next game, you’re the worst.”
If we’re going to use sports analogies here, Strahan should realize that his actions toward Ripa were sort of like the coach quitting before opening day. Or the Super Bowl. Does that make sense now?
“At one point I think we were friends,” he said. “I don’t know what happened at the end. I learned a lot from her, though.”
Hopefully he learns how not to leave a co-worker in the dust the next time he exits a show.
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