Kelly Ignores 800 lb. Rosie in the Room

Kelly Ripa put an awkward sock in it this morning, when it came to addressing her bitch-brawl with Rosie O'Donnell, and made it very clear that she didn't see Clay Aiken's pointed goof last night on their now infamous hand-over-mouth incident.

On "Live with Regis and Kelly," the usually chirpy banter between Ripa and Regis tiptoed around the biggest controversy Kelly has ever been involved in, with no mention at all of Ripa's phoned-in on-air feud yesterday with O'Donnell on "The View." Regis made an oblique reference to it when, before thrusting a large oxygen pump into Kelly's gaping mouth, he said his own hands were "clean as a whistle." And the irony of Ripa wearing a surgical mask and gloves when receiving a flu shot later in the show was rather hard to ignore.

Earlier, Regis asked Kelly whether she'd seen the American Music Awards show last night. On the telecast, broadcast on Ripa's own ABC network, Clay Aiken came out to present with Tori Spelling, and while Clay jabbered on, Tori clapped her hand over Aiken's mouth, saying, "I'll tell you where that hand's been later." Kelly replied that, in fact, she was watching a Tony Bennett special on a rival network. Talk to that hand, Clay!



Tags: Kelly Ripa, KellyRipa, Regis Philbin, RegisPhilbin

Reader Comments

(Page 6 of 10) Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

76. Obviously not many watched this morning. Kelly was uncomfortable with any hint towards the issue. She just wanted to let it go, and though I love Regis, he kept needling the situation. Give her a break. If you don't like her, why are you commenting... I stopped watching the view today, do to the fact that not every "hot topic" is about being gay, or something that has happened to a gay person....

Posted at 7:50PM on Nov 22nd 2006 by Phoebe

77. I am so sick of heterophobic Rosie---she is a total BIGOT. Granted, Kelly is a self absorbed ,conceited narcissist but Rosie was way out of line. Not EVERYTHING that people say has to do with sexual prejudice...clue in, Rosie.

Posted at 8:02PM on Nov 22nd 2006 by colleen

78. Rosie clearly stated "That comment could be viewed as homophobic..." There has been lots of speculation about his sexuality and whether it's true or not.... Insinuations have been made not only by Ripa but lots of talk show hosts...Look @ when she dressed as Clay on their Halloween show....Kissing Regis while he was dressed as "Bo Bice"..... Hmmmmm! I dont feel like Rosie OUTTED Clay... People have already branded him and she was just showing her compassion for someone in his position.... Rosie was only saying what a lot of people were thinking...

Posted at 8:08PM on Nov 22nd 2006 by Michael

79. I wish that Clay Aiken had been quick enough to respond something like, "Who knows where your lips have been?"

Posted at 8:17PM on Nov 22nd 2006 by Larry

80. I think Kelly Rippa acted like a spoiled brat. She thinks she has to be the center of attention in everything. Clay Aiken was getting the attention that she thought should be hers and was annoyed that the audience was paying attention to Clay instead of her. You could see how upset she was. I know that I will no longer watch her program and I am encouraging all my friends in North Carolina to do the same. Clay Aiken showed what a true gentleman he is by apologizing and sending her flowers. Did she even acknowledge this on her show? Clay showed what forgiving people we are in North Carolina. Apparently, she has yet to grasp this thought. I had always thought a lot of Kelly when she played on "All My Children", but she has shown her true side--wanting all the glory and spotlight. Has she forgotten when she put her own hand (and we sure don't know where that hand has been) over Regis' mouth? How soon we forget! All I can say is she needs to grow up. It's not all about her.

Posted at 8:27PM on Nov 22nd 2006 by Linda Peters

81. well this whole "hand gate" as some have graduated it to has gotten completely out of, err, hand. Bottom line, I understand why Kelly was upset, even if she had done it herself to Regis in the past. But she should have left it at what she said Friday. Clay should have,if he wanted to do the hand thing, just put his hand near her mouth without touching and using a bit of force like it appears he did. Then I think he could have looked better in this situation.

Posted at 10:31PM on Nov 22nd 2006 by Jeff

82. He was rude, she was offended, and a bit grossed out- well, took our minds off Iraq again, huh?

Homophobic? No- he violated her space. It was disrespectful- this wasn't Ricky and I Love Lucy here- not so cute: just a jerk thinking he was being funny.

Rosie- you're gay. He's gay. Who cares? See how you'd like that hand wrapped around Your mouth- especially if he Wasn't gay!

Posted at 12:40AM on Nov 23rd 2006 by auramac

83. Rosie is a beast...it's a wonder anybody wants her! I don't want to hear about her being a lesbian.....puke! I bet it's like brer rabbit fighting thru a thicket...eeeewww!

I don't think what Kelly said was wrong at all. He coulda been playing hide the twinkie before he got there....another eeeewwww times 2!!

Posted at 1:33AM on Nov 23rd 2006 by sicntired

84. Clas is turning out to be such an ass !

When he started winking too much on AI towards the end I thought he had chaged a bit too much. Now I can't stand that over the top laugh of his.

If he is ok with someone putting their hand over his mouth then good for hm, but he should keep his hands to himself in the future.

I'm glad that Kelly is not going to allow Rosie to try and shame her for no reason at all.

Posted at 3:19AM on Nov 23rd 2006 by sourapples

85. "That's a 'No, No'. I don't know where that hand's been, honey."– Kelly Ripa to her guest co-host Clay Aiken on Friday November 17, 2006 episode of ABC’s “Live with Regis and Kelly”.

Is this a homophobic comment?

Let’s take a closer look ……….

I watched Friday’s show of “Live with Regis and Kelly” which had Clay Aiken as the guest co-host as well as Monday’s show where Kelly Ripa discusses with Regis Philbin her opinion on what happened on Friday’s show.

On Monday’s show she was clearly pissed off with Clay Aiken (which was uncharacteristic of her to display anger towards any guest). The question is…Why?

On the surface you can see why she would be upset with anyone putting their hand over her mouth, however, looking at Friday’s show as a whole coupled with the show that aired on Monday November 20th, 2006) it is obvious much more is going on here.

It’s not unusual for two people to not “click” – personalities clash – no big deal, you move on.

But what is unusual is Kelly Ripa bringing public attention to this “personality clash”.

Over the weekend the “blogosphere” circulated a report “allegedly” leaked out by someone at ABC. It stated that an incident occurred on Friday’s episode between Kelly Ripa and Clay Aiken.

Soon a video snippet of Clay Aiken putting his hand over Kelly Ripa’s mouth floated through the blogosphere as “video proof” that an incident had occurred.

By Monday morning Kelly Ripa admitted to receiving many phone calls asking her to comment on “what really happened between you and Clay Aiken”.

Kelly Ripa told Regis that she felt that Clay Aiken was disrespectful towards.

Was Clay Aiken out of line when he put his hand over her mouth? Hmmm…

Kelly Ripa is known for using physical comedy on her show and will use just about anything as a prop for comedic effect. She has also put her hand over Regis’ mouth a few times over the years! See below:

http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL598/3437964/13861091/206977934.jpg

That is the nature of her show and the role she plays on it. .

It is obvious that Clay Aiken was being playful. But was it inappropriate considering the venue?

Anyone who watched Fridays show will see that Kelly Ripa did ignore him and clearly would not permit him to ask questions. Why was that?

He was her guest co-host and she should have been more professional towards him.

Has he ever hosted a show before? No.

It was Kelly’s responsibility as host to help guide him through the interview. She failed to do that.

All anyone can do is speculate about what went on behind the scenes.

Did they have spat off air?

Kelly Ripa dressed up in Halloween costume as Clay Aiken and then proceeded to kiss Regis who was dressed up as Bo Bice (another singer from American idol).

Was Clay Aiken upset about that?

Perhaps, Clay Aiken felt disrespected at being made the butt of so many jokes?

Who knows?

ABC’s The View – which has Hot Topics segments (Pop Culture, Current Events etc.)

Tuesday November 21, 2006 – Rosie O’Donnell during the “Hot Topics” segment of The View says that in her opinion Kelly Ripa’s comment was homophobic.

It’s not so much what Kelly Ripa said but HOW she said it.

"That's a 'No, No'. I don't know where that hand's been, honey."

The emphasis is on the word “honey” delivered in an effete manner by Kelly Ripa.

Kelly Ripa wouldn’t have said those words with an effete intonation to a straight man.

She said it in an effete manner because she feels (or believes) that she was speaking with a gay man. Perhaps, she has gay friends and is comfortable being sassy with them by using queer
vernacular. Who knows.

In an unusual move by the producers of The View they allowed Kelly Ripa to call in on air and discuss this with the panel during the Hot Topics segment.

She stated that Clay Aiken was disrespectful to her on her own show and that in no way was her comment homophobic.

Kelly Ripa also said that Rosie was outrageous and irresponsible and “should know better” for even talking about the incident in that way.

All Rosie said was that, as a gay person, she felt (in her opinion) the comment was homophobic.

Where was Rosie coming from? Read on……..

Kelly was condescending to Rosie by saying “you should know better”.

Rosie has a right to voice her opinion on her own show.

It was not Rosie who made this a celebrity news item. It was Kelly Ripa.

Kelly could have let this go the moment she finished taping the show with Clay Aiken.

Rosie & The View were giving Kelly a venue to “sort it all out”. She did not use it wisely.

It did not end there.

Kelly repeated her earlier statements before adding that Clay Aiken was sexist.

The flimsy argument that Clay Aiken would not have done that with Regis Philbin is absurd.

If Regis Philbin had been the host that day he would have let Clay Aiken ask questions during the interview as his guest co-host.

If you watch the show regularly Kelly Ripa often flirts with the male co-hosts (example: Jeff Probst).

She never would have treated a “straight” male guest co-host as badly as she has Clay Aiken.

She went on to comment further about Clay Aiken’s psychological make-up!

Kelly Ripa felt that because Clay Aiken was bullied at some time in his life he was now “taking it out” on her.

Whoa! Now he’s an abuser?

What’s going on here?

Clay Aiken has never openly come out as a gay man.

Both “The View” and “Live with Regis and Kelly” had Clay Aiken on as a guest in the past year and neither of the hosts asked him during the interviews to address the rumours of his sexuality.

But the issue is not his sexual orientation.

The issue is the sexual innuendo/comment directed towards him for comedic effect by Kelly Ripa.

Kelly Ripa was wrong to treat Clay Aiken the way she did through out the taping of the show.

She was cold and controlling of the interview. She was a poor host.

Clay Aiken was wrong to place his hand over Kelly Ripa’s mouth even in jest (bad manners).

BUT considering the venue of the show and who he was with - it was not that out of place.

He was obviously a little nervous and wanted to participate in the show – after all, that was the reason he was there, as guest co-host.

Kelly Ripa should have let the story end was she finished taping the show. But she chose not to.

It served no purpose to respond to rumours circulating in the blogosphere.

The media baited her and got what they wanted which was a scandal / celebrity feud.

It is November sweeps after all.

"That's a 'No, No'. I don't know where that hand's been, honey."

Was Kelly Ripa’s comment homophobic?

Yes - it was.

It was a sexual innuendo.

Clearly she wanted to publicly belittle him. Apparently she could find no other way to control the interview, than to put Clay Aiken in “his place”. That was arrogant of her.

Kelly Ripa has made this an issue for herself because Clay Aiken is perceived to be gay and in her mind it was ok to make a sexual innuendo concerning his sexual orientation.

Posted at 4:25AM on Nov 23rd 2006 by Pandora

86. Though Clay was wrong, Kelly has made this an issue that could have been handled privately. It was clear that she would not allow Mr. Aikens to talk during the interview as her mouth just kept yapping and yapping (though she does not know how to shut up).

I thought it was funny and I also thought it was funny when Ms. Ripa did the same thing to Regis months ago. Hyprocrite Ms. Ripa that is what you are.

I kept saying I saw her do the same thing well last night Entertainment tonight showed the clip where Ms. Ripa did the exact same thing to Regis.

Ms. Ripa was not happy with Clay Aikens well before he put his hand on her mouth. She was not acting all nice nice towards him and her totally ignoring him when he tried to talk the first time was proof. Then the diva decides to make it worse the following Monday when she had to bring it up again. Yeah you care about his fans, well I used to like her but that is over and many people where I word say the same thing. He was wrong but her re-action and the continuation of it on Monday blew it for her in their eyes. She is better off as a soap actress.

Besides he apologized and should not have had to send her any flowers. I hope with ET showing the tape that Mr. Ripa now has to do some groveling of her own.

Ms. Ripa YOU do not throw stones when YOU have done the same thing in the past.

Well, one less show to watch for me.

Thanks for listening I just had to vent as I was a fan of Ripa's barely knew Mr. Aikens but saw what she did before the incident/during the incident/after the incident and come on Howard Stern she toted saying Howard called her right afterwards and said that was wrong. Give me a break.

Posted at 6:12AM on Nov 23rd 2006 by Lara

87. Jimmy Kimmel referred to Rosie O'Donnell as "Bluto."

I laughed so hard I cried.


Posted at 10:06AM on Nov 23rd 2006 by flyonthewall

88. I don't blame Kelly not wanting a hand across her mouth. Hands are the dirtiest
part of the body. I see people in public rest rooms leaving and never washing their hands, how gross. Then they shake hands with someone, there you go.
Like she said, she didn't know where, His hands, meaning the hands he had
shook, had been. In a survey, bathroon doorknobs had blood, fecal and who knows what else on them. I use a tissue to open the bathroom doors. Like Kelly,
I'm particular who's hands I touch.
Coleene

Posted at 1:48PM on Nov 23rd 2006 by Coleene Johnson

89. Rosie O'Donnell is a freakin' idiot, how could someone deduce from Ripa's comment that the she and her statement are homophobic. O'Donnell has lost all mental creditability with me and the next time she opens her mouth I hope its just to load the food in and not speak. Barbara Walters handling of the situation is also revolting, and I thought she was the "boss" over there, the head diva.......whatever.

Posted at 2:00AM on Nov 24th 2006 by L. Michael

90. Can't stand Kelly Ripa. She use to be okay but now I think stardom has went to her head. I wish they would replace her with someone else. I use to watch the show all the time but not anymore because I find her very annoying. From what I have seen from the video, Clay was right to put his hand over her mouth. She just won't shut up for a minute during that interview. He couldn't get a word in.

Posted at 8:09AM on Nov 29th 2006 by Lauren

Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments