‘Live’ Kelly Ripa Replaced After ‘Never Coming Back’ Comment

Live with Kelly and Mark host Kelly Ripa was replaced after telling the audience she was “never coming back.”

Earlier this week, the long-time host said that she would never return to the show if she won the lottery. And one day after the $1 billion Powerball was drawn, Kelly was nowhere to be found. A guest host filled in for her alongside Kelly’s husband and co-host, Mark Consuelos. Here’s what he had to say about Kelly’s absence from the show after saying she wouldn’t come back.

Kelly Says She’s ‘Never Coming Back’

On Monday’s show, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos opened the show as they always do. She told the audience, “Listen, just so you know, I probably won’t be here tomorrow or forever.” But her reasoning for leaving the show forever was that “I’m going to hit the $900 million Powerball.” Mark chuckled at her comment and the audience cheered her on.

As an established member of the crew now, Mark wanted to know if he could get in on the Live employee lottery pool. An evasive Kelly joked, “Uh, we’re collecting money for the new one. Yeah.” Kelly said that she has the office pool, which will “probably turn into a lawsuit.” And, Kelly joked, “I have my own side hustle tickets that I don’t have to split between the 40 people that contribute.”

If she won the lottery, Kelly said, she’d leave for the South of France. But her husband, Kelly explained, can stay behind and keep working. She joked that no one would even notice she’d left. “They’ll just think I’ve had work done,” she joked. Kelly told the audience she’d miss them, but she’d be out.

Live‘s Kelly Ripa Replaced After Making ‘Never Coming Back’ Comment

And now, fans wonder if part of her prediction may have come to pass.

Kelly Ripa was in the studio Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. But the day after the Powerball winner was drawn, Kelly was nowhere to be found. Guest host Maria Menounos filled in for Kelly. Mark explained that his wife was “out on assignment,” but offered no specific explanation for her absence. However, unfortunately for Kelly, the big Powerball winner was in California. And since Kelly is a resident of New York, it probably wasn’t her.

As of now, it’s not clear when Kelly will return. But Maria is well-poised to take her place until she comes back. Over the summer, Maria filled in for Kelly along with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

Do you think Kelly Ripa won the lottery and ran for the hills in the South of France? Let us know why you think she’s out. And catch the whole Live crew on weekday mornings at 9 AM EST on ABC.