Kelly Ripa controversies: Regis Philbin wasn't the only 'Live!' co-host in tense relationship with TV anchor
Fox News
Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin had a challenging time working on "Live!" for 10 years, and co-hosts Michael Strahan and Ryan Seacrest have endured similar drama.
In Ripa's new book, she wrote about having trouble working with Philbin, how she was not allowed to use her own hair and makeup team, and didn't receive a wardrobe budget. The former "All My Children" star also shared that her name "had to be smaller than Regis's name on the "Live!" title card and branding. "When it was time to go, it was time to go. Certain things that were going on behind the scenes just caught up." "If people think, ‘Oh, he hates her’ — I don’t hate her. I do respect her for what she can do at her job. I cannot say enough about how good she is at her job." "I’m a big believer in freedom of expression. I don’t believe we’re supposed to cancel anybody. She has the right to tell her story as she remembers it." Tracy Wright is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Send story tips to tracy.wright@fox.com.
She noted that receiving the offer to host the popular live show came with a warning, "They want to make sure you know who your boss is." Ripa went on to explain that after Philbin retired in 2011, they never had a relationship outside the studio and only socialized on rare occasions.