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 7 of 10) Previous 15 Comments | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. I saw the R&K show last Friday in its entirety and, in my opinion, by the time Clay Aiken put his hand across Kelly's mouth, it was a knee-jerk reaction.

Although he was guesting as co-host on the show, Kelly opened with footage of her Hallowe'en parody of Aiken (Kelly performing in silhouette) and ran that ad nauseum. I understand from someone who was in the audience that, during a commercial break, the "Aiken" silhouette kissed a "Bo Bice" silhouette. It was not on the air, but Clay was aware of it. Then, rubbing salt into the wound, she shoved a photograph of a cat in his face and wouldn't quit. It brought to my mind Van Helsing's waving of the cross in front of Dracula, watching Aiken's reaction.

His paranoid fear of cats is well-known. He had, prior to the show's taping, informed the producers that he has a nervous aversion to cats and requested they avoid the subject. (He referred to the request as Kelly was trying to wrestle him to the floor to force him to look at the cat picture.) The backstory is that he accidentally ran over a kitten in the driveway with a car as a teenager, and has developed a guilt/anxiety complex in regard to felines. (Aiken has emotional issues that I believe would benefit by therapy but he seems to think he can go it alone, with pills.)

Seems Kelly is a pot calling the kettle black, if she's so upset over his attempt to literally shut her mouth. It was one of those moments when, had it come as the denouement on the big screen in a theatre, the audience would have stood in unison and wildly cheered.


Posted at 10:15PM on Nov 26th 2006 by D.

92. When I heard Rosie say that Kelly was homophobic, I was really waiting for the punchline. What a ridiculous assumption! It really was outragous and to interject that into the stream of consciousness was irresponsible at best. The bottom line is this, flu season or not, it was simply rude of Clay Aiken to impose himself on her that way....plain and simple....rude.

Posted at 12:40PM on Nov 26th 2006 by leslie hammond

93. I like Rosie just fine, but she is nuts to think that Kelly's comment was homophobic. Like someone else said, that is a common expression and people use it all the time.

I used to like Clay, but he was being the biggest jerk on the planet from almost the first second he came out (I mean, came out on the stage at the Regis show). Everyone keeps only talking about the hand on the mouth thing, but Clay said at least 20 really nasty things to Kelly in their host chat. Basically, his "jokes" (which weren't funny) were about saying Kelly is ugly, she is a mental case, she has no fans, the whole audience loves him and not her, and many, many more things.

Clay was rude from the get go and for some reason everyone keeps ignoring that. Go to youtube.com and watch the entire host chat - you'll see what I mean.
Clay is very full of himself now. He's not the sweet guy he used to be. He's also angry because everyone is always questioning his sexuality. Well, too bad, Clay - get over it!


Posted at 2:07AM on Nov 24th 2006 by Christina Andra

94. Anyone consider that because the ratings for Regis & Kelly are twice that of The View that Rosie may be trying to bring up their ratings by slamming Kelly? Barbara, if that's what is going on...shame on you. Rosie, what about us heterosexuals who are offended by your constant gay comments & descriptions of your lifestyle? We were viewers of the View long before you came along, but more & more of us are leaving daily. Rosie, are you auditioning for your own show on that gay channel Logo? Please...go there & leave us alone.

Posted at 3:52AM on Nov 24th 2006 by Rick

95. I saw the entire show because Dancing with the Stars were to be on and when I saw Clay Aiken was there I was even more interested in sticking with the show. I always turn the channel because of K. Rippa. The incident would never have happen if K. Rippa had given Clay Aiken one chance to say something. I felt embarrassed for him just standing around due to the fact she wouldn't shut up and give someone else a chance to talk and she was rude to her co host and the audience. I've never been a Rosie O'Donnell fan but I am now. Gay or not, Rippa slung a dagger and someone should teach her to shut her mouth occassionally. Thanks Rose!

Posted at 8:40AM on Nov 24th 2006 by Marjorie Abbott

96. Why is everyone insisting that Rosie "outed" Clay? People can act homophobic even if the person they believe is gay, really isn't gay. If your actions towards another is based upon a certain perception you have of that person then that is what determines if it is homophobic, racist, sexist etc. Not if you victim truly matched your perception or not. I know people who were victimized after 9-11, somebody burned down their home and business assuming that they were of Middle Eastern background. The victims weren't. However, that doesn't change the motive of the person who did the crime. I think Rosie's remark came from history with Kelly, and how Kelly dressed up as Clay for Halloween kissed Regis who was dressed up like Bo Bice full on the lips kiss. Now why would Kelly do that?

Posted at 9:12AM on Nov 24th 2006 by Janet

97. I think Clay demonstrated being a real man, he apologized to Kelly! His intention was not to publicly humilate her, but she sure did. And all Kelly can do in return is to make excuses for her poor behavior, and deny any wrong doing. This photo of Kelly is disgusting, it looks pretty pornographic to me. We all know about Kelly licking & kissing all sorts of things and people in the past, so we know her explanation is pretty feeble. She has even wiped her on saliva all over Regis' face to clean him. Kelly did treat Clay differently than she would most other guests on her show--and she knows it is the truth. So rather than lie about, come clean.

Posted at 9:23AM on Nov 24th 2006 by Jacie

98. As I was watching the show, I found Clay to be very rude in his attitude towards Kelly LONG before he put his hand over her mouth. I don't think Kelly had to declare a reason for being appalled by his actions. It was her show and he was a guest, and he acted as though it was his show and she was trying to take it over. For most of the show, when Kelly spoke, he rolled his eyes at her or made some kind of rude expression or gesture towards her. Forget whether or not it was "germically" incorrect, it was just plain rude of Clay.
As for Rosie, shame on her for even getting into the discussion. I really never had an opinion on Clay's sexual preferences, and now she announced it to the public on national TV. If he wanted this information public, he would have done it on his own.
Rosie's "defense" of homosexuals is becoming to resemble reverse descrimination. She's reading way too much into every move people make and adding a discrimation twist to it, when people haven't even considered the things she is accusing them of. Rosie, sometimes people just have reactions that have no relation to their or the other person's sexualty. Live your life as you wish and let others do the same!

Posted at 11:49AM on Nov 24th 2006 by Linda

99. I did not see all of this talk show/singer infighting because I was to wraped up with the insanity of the "Kramer" s**t. Now I know why they are running the Kelly Ripa Etrue story, which paints her as almost ready for sainthood. Personally, I with the Howie Mandel way of "hand shaking"- as little contact as as I can get away with without hurting someones feelings. Kelly seems to be morphing into Kathy Lee - every minute with the precosious kids and hot hubby. Say didnt Frank want to get all anal with some stripper ? Kelly should leard from Kathys mistakes as her hubby IS hot and Im sure he has women hitting on him daily. And you are so right #11 , she puts on a little coy front when she has male guests. OK Ive said enough. Im gonna blame all this crazy behavior on Thanksgiving :) Peace and Love to all... P.S. Rosie is the reason that people think there is something mentally wrong with gays, I stopped waching the View because of that big mouth Star Jones, now its even worse because Rosie acts like shes the star and her co stars are just back up for when she gets tired of speaking. ( wow I guess i was not done ) Im really done -saying so long and have a good day.

Posted at 12:58PM on Nov 24th 2006 by AngelG1

100. testing

Posted at 2:42PM on Nov 24th 2006 by m

101. Apparently, Kelly DID know where Clay's hand had been. It had been shaking other hands. The audience's hands (eeww!!). "Doesn't he know I have kids?!!!! The nerve!" Yes, Kell, everyone knows and you are not the only one.

Posted at 2:33PM on Nov 24th 2006 by Angie Elsie

102. AGREE COMPLETELY WITH # 30! KELLY RIPA WAS RUDE TO CLAY AIKEN! SHE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE! IF SHE'D HAVE LET HIM SAY SOMETHING, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED! SHE'S SUCH A SHOW-OFF, AND HAS TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION! WHEN ADVERSITY HAPPENS, YOUR TRUE CHARACTER COMES OUT, AND HERS SURE DID!

Posted at 2:56PM on Nov 24th 2006 by KAY BRIESKE

103. I personally don't know why Rosie thinks we care what she thinks. I personally dislike the woman as much as I dislike Kelly. Rosie is a loud mouth woman who butts into other peoples business. And kelly is just right out strange.

Posted at 3:31PM on Nov 24th 2006 by Lisa

104. iamsosickofrosie therealrosiehasshownup ontheview...everythingisabouthomoswhocareswhatyouareinprivatedontrubeveryonesfaceinitdoyourjobandentertainusinolongerwatchtheviewrosiehasputadeepimpactonmewithherpersonallifeitsrosie rosie rosie goodbyerosiegoodbyeview

Posted at 10:54AM on Nov 26th 2006 by elaine

105. I'm just grateful to be able to focus for awhile on meaningless TV scandals after working so hard to get the Democrats back in control of Congress. I don't actually watch these shows but have watched ALL the internet clips of the whole thing.

First, Clay Aiken certainly appears to be gay, and if he is, why is he denying it ? He could do so much good just being himself and showing America there is nothing to fear, and most important be true to himself , knowing that he is just as God made him and is beautiful because of that.

I do not think Kelly was out of line in chastising him. I agree with Regis that Clay was probably nervous, but he should not have become defensive when Kelly rudely played her impersonation. Putting your hand over someone's mouth is inexcusable, and I could not believe it happened when I saw the first pic. It was right for Kelly to be mad, and it was not homophobic. Luckily, Regis was calmer when Kelly put her hand over his mouth just a few months ago or the show would start to get a "hand on mouth" reputation. Judgment, Kelly Ripa: hypocritical but right, and not a homophobic.

While I am glad that Rosie is vigilant regarding homophobia, I think she made the wrong call on this one. I also do not think Rosie "outed" Clay Aiken, though I wish someone would for his own good. Rosie referred to hm as someone whose "sexuality is ambiguous."

Someone like Rosie is good for America, because she makes us all think twice about whether what we say or do is hurtful to another human being who happens to be different but equal. Gay people should not be second class citizens in our society - and America needs to join the rest of the Western World on this issue. If you want "lesbian lite," watch Ellen. I think she is fabulous for America too. Honest to herself and world about who she is, and enjoying life to the fullest and making us laugh.

Posted at 6:11AM on Nov 25th 2006 by Phil

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