Howie Mandel takes to social media to publicly apologize to Kelly Ripa after a tense on-air moment between the two during a recent episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.
The Incident
Mandel’s apology stemmed from an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, when the comedian refused a compliment about his looks from the pair.
The exchange began when Mark commented on Mandel turning 70 last November. Ripa added that the age “doesn’t make any sense.”
Mandel asked, “What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense?”
Mark replied, “You look great!”
Mandel then snapped at the couple, stating, “I look great? That doesn’t mean anything to me. No, no, no, no. I don’t like that, because that’s a caveat.”
Ripa pressed, “We’re not saying you look great for 70. We’re saying you look great — and I don’t believe you’re 70.”
Mandel retorted to her comment, stating, “It’s like saying, ‘You’re smart for a stupid person,'” earning some laughs from the audience. “‘Oh, you look smart, you seem smart.’ You see, I don’t look good.”
While a source close to the interaction noted it was “casual banter,” many social media users believe that Ripa was genuinely upset about the joke.
Howie Mandel Apologizes
After the exchange flew across social media and the internet, Howie Mandel decided to set the record straight.
He posted an apology video on his Instagram page. Mandel started by saying, “I have been debating for 48 hours whether I should make this post or not. And I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing, philosophically. I don’t believe that somebody…who’s a comedian needs to apologize for a joke. It is a joke. It is meant as a joke, and it’s not meant to offend…In all my years, 50 years in the business, I haven’t ever publicly kind of apologized for [a joke]. It’s hard for me.”
He continued, “But this is for Kelly Ripa, who, in the past, has been incredibly supportive. Not only have I been a guest on her show, but I have co-hosted with her, and I’ve known her for years…When I go out there, I just try to be entertaining and funny, and sometimes, as a comedian, things don’t land the way you mean them to land.”
He added, “And I don’t know how to say this, but not only do I want to say I’m sorry to Kelly, but — and this is the hardest part — you’re right. You’re absolutely right. And I’m sorry I didn’t see it that way.”
Accepting the Compliment
After Mandel’s apology, he decided to end the video on a positive note, accepting the compliment from Ripa.
“But after a lot of thought and self-reflection, I do look great for my age! I really do…I look fantastic, and I just have to embrace the fact that I look this good,” he shared with a smile.
He also added a comment during Kelly and Mark’s barrage of compliments, stating, “Honestly, now I’ll be serious for a minute. I am gorgeous.”