Howie Mandel is apologizing to Kelly Ripa following a viral exchange on LIVE with Kelly and Mark. The situation escalated after the co-hosts acknowledged Mandel’s recent 70th birthday milestone, with Ripa expressing praise over her guest star’s appearance. Mandel assumed her implication was that he only looks good “for his age,” but Ripa was quick to claim this wasn’t her intention.
“We’re not saying you look great for 70. We’re saying you look great… and I don’t believe you’re 70,” Ripa told Mandel on her talk show which aired on March 23.
Mandel, however, maintained his stance on the backhanded nature of the compliment, claiming, “It’s like saying ‘you’re smart for a stupid person.’”
Because this live TV exchange drew attention shortly after it aired, with some fans criticizing Mandel for his behavior during his guest appearance, the 70-year-old comedian hopped on Instagram to deliver an apology.
He specifically addressed Ripa, saying in his March 29 upload, “I have been debating for 48 hours whether I should make this post or not… I don't believe that somebody who's a comedian needs to apologize for a joke. It is a joke.” He continued, saying, “In all my years, 50 years in the business, I haven't ever publicly kind of apologized for (a joke). It’s hard for me.”
Mandel went on to express his appreciation for the talk show host. “This is for Kelly Ripa, who, in the past, has been incredibly supportive,” he said. “Not only have I been a guest on her show, but I have co-hosted with her, and I've known her for years.”
Additionally, he chalked it all up to a joke that simply didn’t land well. “When I go out there, I just try to be entertaining and funny, and sometimes, as a comedian, things don't land the way you mean them to land.”
