ABC Bracing For Potential Strahan-Ripa Conflicts

7 Hudson Square: Locations of New ABC Studios

The New York Post has published a story claiming "ABC staffers bracing for meltdown with rivals Michael Strahan, Kelly Ripa forced back under same roof: sources." The story goes on to detail tensions at ABC as former Live! with Kelly and Michael co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan are set to work in close proximity again due to ABC’s consolidation of its studios. 

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The article draws on insider sources to highlight the ongoing rift between the two TV personalities, nearly a decade after their high-profile fallout in 2016, and the network’s efforts to manage potential conflict.

ABC is moving its flagship programs, including Live with Kelly and Mark (hosted by Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos) and Good Morning America (where Strahan is a lead anchor), to a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown Manhattan. 

The article revisits the 2016 fallout when Strahan abruptly left Live! to join Good Morning America full-time. Ripa was reportedly blindsided by the announcement, learning of it just before it went public, which led her to take a week-long hiatus from the show in protest. The incident sparked a public feud, with Ripa feeling humiliated and betrayed, while Strahan later claimed he was not at fault, stating the network mishandled the situation. Sources say the two have not spoken since, and their relationship remains “icy.”

 ABC executives are reportedly “scrambling” to prevent awkward encounters between Ripa and Strahan, fearing a “meltdown” that could disrupt the workplace or generate negative publicity. A network producer cited in the article states, “If you’re hoping for a surprise selfie or reconciliation, keep hoping. This isn’t going to be a warm reunion. This is two professionals keeping it strictly business.”

The consolidation of studios reflects ABC’s strategy to streamline operations, but it risks reigniting old tensions. The network’s efforts to keep Ripa and Strahan apart suggest a proactive approach to damage control, but the article implies that any misstep could fuel tabloid coverage or affect staff morale.