LIVE couple Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos made rare political comments defending beleaguered late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and stressed the ‘importance’ of the USA’s First Amendment during their ABC morning show Wednesday.
The Daytime Emmy Award-winning hosts – both 54 – fully admitted they normally ‘don’t talk about any politics’ especially while ‘sitting here in the Disney building.’
‘We know that our fans at home want an escape from all of that, and we agree — we want an escape from all of that!’ Mark conceded.
‘But I think it’s important, too, that we all are free, because you never know — we can say something crazy and tomorrow we’re gone…One thing we can all agree on as a country is that the First Amendment is very important.’
Kelly agreed that their long-running syndicated series was known for being ‘light, frothy, and non-controversial.’
‘We are non-controversial. We are like melted ice cream,’ Ripa described.
LIVE couple Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos made rare political comments defending beleaguered late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and stressed the ‘importance’ of the USA’s First Amendment during their ABC morning show Wednesday
‘But even we are constantly in a position where we are checking what we’re about to say in our heads because we’ve come to this inflection point where no matter what you say, somebody is upset.
‘And I think everybody needs to take a step back and really think. I have a right to speak and you have a right to say horrible things about me on Instagram. That’s the pleasure about living in a free society. That is important.’
The married couple of 29 years went on to say they ‘personally’ know Kimmel, who returned to his ABC talk show Tuesday night following a three-episode suspension by the network over comments surrounding Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
‘He’s one of the kindest, most generous people that I know,’ Consuelos gushed.
‘Cares about his family, takes care of his crew, his staff, everybody. He really, really cares. And his statements last night, I think, were on point. He understands both sides, he was very humble in his speech.’
The inseparable presenters agreed that Jimmy’s first opening monologue back on the air, which amassed 14M views on YouTube, was ‘responsible.’
In his 15-minute speech, the 57-year-old comedian teared up while attempting to explain his September 15th comments poking fun of President Donald Trump’s so-called grief over Kirk’s killing and Republicans’ fear of the suspected shooter being labeled ‘MAGA.’
‘It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,’ Kimmel cried.
‘That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but to some, that felt ill-timed or unclear or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.
‘If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way. I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution. And it isn’t – ever.’
The Daytime Emmy Award-winning hosts – both 54 – fully admitted they normally ‘don’t talk about any politics’ especially while ‘sitting here in the Disney building’
Mark conceded: ‘We know that our fans at home want an escape from all of that, and we agree — we want an escape from all of that! But I think it’s important, too, that we all are free, because you never know — we can say something crazy and tomorrow we’re gone’
Kelly agreed that their long-running syndicated series was known for being ‘light, frothy, and non-controversial’ but admitted: ‘We’ve come to this inflection point where no matter what you say, somebody is upset’
She continued: ‘And I think everybody needs to take a step back and really think. I have a right to speak and you have a right to say horrible things about me on Instagram. That’s the pleasure about living in a free society. That is important’
The four-time Emmy winner went on to call Brendan Carr’s actions ‘un-American’ as the FCC Chairman put pressure on Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live from all 66 of their ABC-affiliated stations nationwide, which is still in effect.
And as Mark campaigned for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race, Kelly has never publicly disclosed her political affiliations. However, both insisted they have ‘plenty of friends on both sides.’
Consuelos and Ripa originally met at a gym in 1995 before playing onscreen lovers Hayley and Mateo on the ABC soap opera All My Children, which quickly led to them eloping at the Chapel of the Bells in Las Vegas in 1996.
The empty nesters – who share a $27M Upper East Side townhouse – are proud parents of 28-year-old actor Michael, 24-year-old singer Lola, and 22-year-old new college grad Joaquin.
