Andy Cohen Reacts to Kathie Lee Gifford Slamming Kelly Ripa’s Book

BFFs for life. Andy CohenHe shared his thoughts about Kathie Lee GiffordRefusing to read his long-time pal Kelly Ripa’s memoir — and why the book isn’t slandering the late Regis Philbin.

“I think if Kathie Lee read the book, she would probably agree with everything Kelly said,” Cohen, 54, exclusively told Us WeeklyBravoCon 2022 interview on Friday, October 14. “What Kelly did was she told her experience and it was all so very fair and balanced.”

Ripa, 52 years old, made headlines recently when she opened up in her memoir. Live Wire: Long-Winded Short StoriesAbout her relationship with her late cohost who died in July 2020 at 88 years old.

While the two weren’t close in real life — the Riverdale alum called the idea “a basic misconception” — she also revealed there was a power struggle that existed between them.

”My name had to be smaller than Regis’ name on the Live! title card and branding. A game of inches that speaks for itself. But we all agreed. Seniority, after all,” Ripa penned in her stories, noting that “seniority” soon turned into an “elusive” term never used in reference to her experience.

Gifford, aged 69, was the man who helmed Live! Live! for more than a decade until she exited the show in 2000 (Ripa’s takeover began in 2001) — responded to the former soap star’s claims during an October 10 interview with Fox 5’s Rosanna Scotto.

“I was very sorry to see the headlines,” she said. “You know, you never know what’s true and what’s not true. I went, ‘I hope this isn’t true. I just hope it isn’t.’ ‘Cause what’s the point? I don’t get it. I don’t get it.”

The Lipstick Jungle alum went on to state that she’s “not gonna read the book” before adding, “I know what Regis was to me.”

She continued, “He was 15 years the best partner I could ever have professionally. He was also my friend. We were dear friends and after I left the show … for the next 20 years we became better friends. Dearer friends.”

The TV producer also hoped that Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s widow Joy Philbin — and his four grown children — wouldn’t have to see Ripa’s comments.

“Lord, protect Joy and the girls from this,” Gifford shared on the show. (Regis shared Amy with his ex-wife and Daniel with his son Daniel. Catherine Faylen and daughters Joanna and J.J. with Joy.)

Cohen, on the other hand, said Us on Friday that the Today host “responding to a headline” is what caused the inital confusion, noting that the drama between the two women is actually “much to do about nothing.”

When asked if the New York native had read his BFF’s new book, Cohen replied, “Yes, I loved [it]. It was incredible.”

Diana Cooper reporting