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Kelly Ripa Will Return to 'Live' on Tuesday, Thanks Staff for Giving Her Time to 'Process' Strahan's Exit

Author: TVLine
April 24, 2016 at 16:43

Kelly Ripa’s high-profile “sickout” is coming to an end.

Kelly Ripa’s high-profile “sickout” is coming to an end.

In an email sent to the staff of Live with Kelly and Michael late Friday, Ripa — who has been MIA since news broke Tuesday that co-host Michael Strahan would be leaving for a full-time gig at Good Morning America — promised to return to work on Tuesday.

“I wanted to thank you all for giving me the time to process this new information,” Ripa wrote (per Deadline). “Your kindness, support, and love has overwhelmed me. We are a family and I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday morning.”

According to reports, Ripa was blindsided when she learned of Strahan’s departureshortly after Tuesday’s program wrapped at 10 am, so much so that she failed to show up for work on Wednesday. As a result, Strahan was forced to awkwardly address his looming exit opposite guest co-host Ana Gasteyer. Ripa ended up missing Thursday and Friday’s shows as well (Erin Andrews filled in alongside Strahan both days, the latter of which was pre-taped).

Pretty Little Liars‘ Shay Mitchell will occupy Ripa’s chair on Monday.

While Strahan’s initial on-air statement about his transition to GMA on Wednesday did not mention Ripa by name — thanking only his fans and “an incredible staff here” — he addressed his counterpart of four years at the very end of the broadcast.

“I really want to thank of course Kelly Ripa because Kelly welcomed me here and I’ve learned so much f-rom her,” he said. “She’s been an amazing influence on me and it has truly changed my life to be here with her. I know that the show will continue to be strong and great because of Kelly and Michael Gelman and the staff here. Everybody is so talented and this show has not been around for over 30 years by mistake… Kelly, I thank you and I love you and everyone else here at Live.”

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