Michael Strahan wants everyone to know that there is no drama surrounding “LIVE! With Kelly and Michael.”
“I think everybody got this wrong impression of it,” Strahan told Entertainment Tonight on the Met Gala red carpet on May 2, noting that he didn’t understand how it became such a big deal with the press. “But it’s a great show, great people, and I’m fortunate to be a part of it.”
Strahan who announced he was heading to “Good Morning America”—news that reportedly blindsided his co-host Kelly Ripa—insisted the countdown to his final day on the show is great.
“Every week is great,” said the 44-year old. “Every day is great for me. I’m on the other side of the dirt.”
He added: “I’m still looking forward to going to work for ‘Live!’—I love being there. I still love it.”
Kelly Ripa addressed Strahan’s departure for the first time on their Tuesday, May 3 episode.
“A week from this Friday is Michael’s final show here at ‘Live!’,” said Ripa as the audience booed. Strahan’s last show is on May 13, and is expected to be a nostalgic moment for viewers.
“We‘ll remember. We’ll reminisce. We’re going to look back at the fun times we’ve had together—wait till you see all the stuff that we’ve done, you’re not going to believe it,” she told Strahan on the May 3 episode. “So join us for Michael’s Flashback Friday Farewell on Friday the 13th.”
The departure of Strahan leaves a vacant position on the ABC morning talk show. Reports have speculated that Andy Cohen, Josh Groban, and Anderson Cooper are possible candidates as permanent replacements.
Strahan will join Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos on the set of “Good Morning America” full-time in September, having previously alternated between the two shows.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” Strahan said.
