TwitterIn recent weeks, Kelly Ripa has been called a "diva," "defiant," and allegedly is in the process of "declaring war." However, there's one other title we'd like to add to the mix—winner.
With 15 years dedicated to the Live! desk, the 45-year-old daytime veteran has earned her stripes in the industry. Rarely if ever the subject of a scandal, Ripa has remained a well-respected television personality over all this time.
However, when she learned her co-host Michael Strahan will leave the show and head to Good Morning America as a full-time co-anchor, she could not longer sit there and smile. It's necessary to note she learned the news around the same time the rest of the world did, though she found out in a private meeting while others heard the news in a staff memo released by ABC News president James Goldston.
To start, when all eyes were focused anxiously on her reaction, Ripa didn't show up to work the next day—a choice the show's rep explained as "a day off." It was later confirmed that she would not return to the show until the following week because of "a previously scheduled vacation."
Immediately, Ripa was painted as the villain and plucked apart by the media alleging she was being unprofessional in a crucial moment for her colleague, the show and herself. However, that's not how she saw it.
"I really needed a couple of days to gather my thoughts. After 26 years with this company, I earned the right," she said directly into the camera during a personal monologue on the show the following Tuesday.
Just like that, she won the audience's heart once again. She became the poster woman for demanding respect at work. Suddenly, she was not only the hero of the present conflict, but also of a longtime debacle between women and society.
"It started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration and, most importantly, respect in the workplace," she declared during her speech.
Here are more ways Ripa turned out to be the champion of this ongoing drama:
1. Women are on her side more than ever.
With a predominantly female audience, it is in Kelly's favor to be as strong and independent a woman as possible not only for her own sake, but for the sake of all the women watching her. If she had simply accepted how she was treated without every raising an eyebrow, she would have been criticized for failing to stand up for herself by the very women who tune into her show every day.
2. She demanded respect in a society that still treats women like less.
As demonstrated throughout this ordeal, women are not typically painted in the best public light when they go against what is expected of them, even if their reasons are sound. While executives couldn't give her the advanced notice she was worthy of, it was Kelly who was immediately scrutinized and vilified for taking a few days to pull herself together after learning the life-changing news.
3. The show has more attention than ever before.
It seems like the entire world is following the saga. While the attention can be daunting to the stars, it's music to executives' ears. The rejuvenated publicity and mounting momentum surrounding the show can only improve viewership in a market that is becoming increasingly difficult to tackle.
4. It benefits the search for a new co-host.
Much like the previous point, dedicated fans and curious new viewers alike will be interested to see who gets one of the most famous spots on television next. With hundreds of think pieces published, daily speculation and endless theories, it will be just as entertaining a process as watching Kelly and Michael try to keep it together until May 13.