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Kelly Ripa Recalls 'Complicated' Relationship With Late 'Live!' Co-Host Regis Philbin

Kelly Ripa Recalls 'Complicated' Relationship With Late 'Live!' Co-Host Regis Philbin

Kelly Ripa is opening up about her friendship and working relationship with Regis Philbin.

If you recall, the 53-year-old Live! host and actress joined the morning talk show to co-host with Regis in 2001 following the departure of Kathie Lee Gifford.

In a new interview with People to promote her new book, Kelly looked back on the on and off friendship with Regis and admitted that even writing about the late host was “the hardest chapter to write.”

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“There were good and bad days,” she shared with the outlet about her time co-hosting with Regis. “I don’t want to feel like I’m slamming anyone or that I’m being disrespectful. But I also want people to know it was not a cakewalk. It took years to earn my place there and earn things that are routinely given to the men I worked with. Including an office and a place to put my computer.”

Kelly recalled that their relationship behind the scenes on the show was a bit strained.

“I felt horrible,” she said, remembering one moment about a snide comment from Regis about her bringing a hair and makeup team with her. “He was probably trying to be funny, but at the same time it felt like a pile-on.”

Kelly adds, “I understand that probably he didn’t want a co-host, but the network wanted me to be the co-host and I didn’t think I should pass up that opportunity. I don’t think it was fair to him. But it was also not fair to me.”

Despite this though, Kelly does treasure the friendly moments they did share.

“Off camera and outside of that building, it was a different thing,” she shares. “The handful of times we spent together, I so enjoyed. We went to the same resort once on vacation and he came to a dinner I hosted—one of the favorite nights of my life. I never laughed so hard.”

Regis passed away in 2020.

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Photos: Getty
Posted to: Kelly Ripa, Regis Philbin