Kelly Ripa, Kathy Lee Gifford Shutterstock (2)
Avoid drama. Kelly Ripafinally responded Kathie Lee Gifford‘s comments that she has no plans to read Live WireRegis Philbin, their former cohost, was worried that it would contain negative stories.
“It’s really hard to sell a book, right? And [her comments came during]Like, week three of The Book [being released],” the Live with Kelly und Ryan cohost, 52, told Amanda Hirsch on the Tuesday, October 18 episode of Dear Media’s “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. “I’m not gonna lie, I was not reading any headlines anywhere [at the time]. And suddenly all of these headlines pop up and there’s all of this attention on my book. I’m a person who likes to turn negatives into positives, so this is my final comment. [to her] is, ‘Thank you.’”
Ripa added that she thinks “people that read the book” will have a “completely” different take on the chapters that mention the late morning show host, who died in July 2020 at the age of 88.
“You know, if you read it, if you do the deep dive, I take his side in most of the chapter,” the former soap star continued. “I’m, like, on his side because … at the time, I had no awareness that this was not a choice for him [to have a new cohost]. I wasn’t a choice for him.”
Ultimately, Ripa thinks it’s “ironic” that the chapter of Live Wire that is gaining the most attention is actually one where she reflects on whether it’s worth it to correct the record of her relationship with Philbin. “This entire chapter is about correcting the record in real-time,” she explained. “Do you do it? Is it possible to do it theoretically? … People who read the book have a very different take on those chapters because they read the book. … And the comments I’ve gotten about those chapters have been overwhelmingly positive and the people who read the book took away a lot of positivity from it.”
However, All My Children alum stated that “nobody has to read every book on Earth,” she did appear to throw shade at the former Today host, 69. “I’m like, the opposite [of her]. I don’t comment on things I don’t know about, so I don’t know [exactly what she said].”
Gifford made headlines earlier this month when she said that she would not be reading. Live Wire. “I was very sorry to see the headlines,” she told Fox 5’s Rosanna ScottoOctober 10, 2010. “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.”
Referring to Ripa’s claims that there was a power struggle between her and the late Who Wants to be a Millionaire? host, Gifford continued, “I’m not gonna read the book. … I just know what Regis was to me, Rosanna. He was my best friend professionally for 15 years. 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 added that she hopes Philbin’s four adult daughters and his widow, Joy Philbin, wouldn’t have to hear about Ripa’s book. “Lord, protect Joy and the girls from this,” Gifford said. “In all the years I’ve known him, I never saw him [be]I am not kind to anyone. I never did. I’m just saying my reality is something completely different from that.”
An industry insider said that the report was made at the time. Us Weekly that Gifford’s comments only served to draw more attention to the tell-all memoir. “It’s sad but ironic that by commenting about a book she hasn’t read, Kathie Lee will ensure this number one bestseller will actually be read by even more people,” the source said.
