Inside Live star Kelly Ripa's rocky marriage history with husband Mark Consuelos as he takes over Ry

May 2024 · 6 minute read

KELLY Ripa is about to take the term work spouse literally.

The host, 52, has opened up about her ever-changing romance with her 52-year-old hubby Mark, especially after the announcement he will soon be sitting next to her full time.

After giving her spouse a shout-out on social media, Kelly admitted that co-hosting together on the show does affect a certain aspect of their marriage.

"And Mark, welcome home, or to the contractual obligation phase of our relationship," she said.

In 2022, Live! executives began pursuing Mark to come on board as the new host because Ryan Seacrest had been "spread too thin."

Mark has filled in for Ryan multiple times on the show - including for a week in December.

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Ryan recently announced he's leaving Live! after six years.

An insider close to the situation exclusively told The U.S. Sun his absences on the daytime talk show gave Mark more opportunities to shine on the program.

"Ryan has a lot of different responsibilities, and there have been many discussions about what's next for Live, and ABC zeroed in on Mark as a natural fit.

"The familiarity with Ryan and Kelly was really good but bringing on Mark takes the chemistry to a different level," the source said.

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WEDDED BLISS

Kelly and Mark have been married for 26 years.

However, it hasn't always been a fairy tale - starting with their quickie Vegas marriage.

Last year, Kelly reflected on the small budget ceremony.

"We just had a very normal, very regular wedding," she told co-host Ryan Seacrest during an episode of their talk show.

"It really is such an efficient way to get married. And it was fun. We were like: 'Now, this is gambling! Woohoo!'"

The couple - who met in 1995 on the soap opera All My Children - were both based in New York City.

GOING CHEAP

Kelly admitted the decision to elope was inspired by the fact that both of them happened to have two days off work.

"Two consecutive days off from work, both on the same day. And it was like: 'Let's go to Vegas and get married and it'll be fun,'" she recalled. 

The mother of three went on to revealed the ceremony was very cheap.

Kelly said: "$179 for a wedding, including airfare, cause we had miles and we had a canceled trip or something. But $179 in total — total with everything."

As for her wedding dress, Kelly revealed she bought it for $199 in clearance at a Barney's warehouse sale.

HEY JEALOUSY

Kelly recently confessed Mark wasn't always supportive of her career.

The talk show host interviewed her husband as her first guest on her new podcast, Let's Talk Off Camera.

During the March 22 episode, the couple opened up about the difficulties in their marriage and how Mark wasn't his wife's biggest cheerleader initially.

"My biggest complaint about you over the course of our marriage — and this is not recent because it definitely changed — but you used to be insanely jealous, and that was a hard pill to swallow," Kelly told the Riverdale actor.

FOR EXAMPLE

The Live host then detailed an incident that happened early on in their relationship that showed his jealous side.

"It was our first week of marriage because we didn't take our honeymoon until later. You were working, and I went to visit you in Boston," she began.

"We went to this Italian restaurant, and the waiter was, like, a very cute old man; he's definitely in his 70s if not 80s. He leaned down, and he said: 'And for the Principessa?'"

Kelly continued: "I thought it was so cute that this little old man called me a princess, and I looked at him, and I gave him my order in a very smiley way. And he walked away, and you picked a horrible fight."

Mark recalled the moment and explained that his age was part of the reason for his behavior.

"I remember that. Look, at age 25, I was pretty insane," he shared.

"But that jealousy thing definitely followed me for a while. I'm not jealous anymore," assured the All My Children alum.

UNDER COVER

Mark's jealousy would manifest itself again as he tried to catch Kelly cheating early in their union.

The television host's husband confessed he put on a disguise and pretended that he was sending her flowers to try and nab her in the act.

In the new book, What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life, Mark recounted the time he couldn't reach his wife for a whole day: "After we were married, I was doing a show in Boston, and I couldn’t get a hold of her all day.

"We didn’t have cell phones then. I got a really bad feeling.

"So I got on a flight to New York and called her from the plane and asked her what she was doing that night."

Kelly continued the story, and revealed that she told him she was "cleaning toilets."

FEELING FLUSHED

She continued: "Apparently, he thought that sounded very fishy. He wanted to catch me.

"So he gets home and tells the doorman to call up to the apartment and tell me there’s a flower delivery.

"I’m excited because I’m thinking: 'Oh my gosh, he’s sending me flowers!'”

But instead of the delivery guy, Mark bursted through the door and started searching the couple's home.

Kelly continued to explain: "Meanwhile, I have a Johnny mop in one hand, and I’m wearing a bathrobe.

"So I open the door, and it’s him. He comes in - he doesn’t even say hello.

"He’s looking for something. I’m still looking for the flower guy! And he’s sweeping the scene!"

Mark didn't find any man hiding in the closet - once again blaming his issues with jealousy for his overreaction.

FIGHT NIGHT

Spending more time together could result in more arguments - something Kelly seems to welcome.

She has admitted to fighting with Mark and admits that it's not normal to not fight.

"I don't understand when people say, 'We never fight.' I go, 'Oh, they're in trouble," she told People.

"Many people we know have gone through a divorce and a separation and when you ask 'Why did you guys wind up getting a divorce?', it's always the same answer: 'I don't really know.'"

Kelly went on: "I feel like we could have over the years let something small turn into that and [instead] we just put our heads down, got together and said 'Let's work it out…'"

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Now, the couple can work out their arguments on live TV.

"We're not afraid to go there," she said.

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