Allan Bregg/SPLASH NEWSToday may have marked the first Live! show in which Kelly Ripa appeared without Michael Strahan by her side, but she's continued sending subliminal messages about the future of the show.
On Monday morning, the host stepped out of her New York City apartment wearing a gray-on-gray ensemble with wedged booties and holding a Late Night With Seth Meyers mug in her hand. Though nothing has been confirmed just yet, rumors have been circulating that the Saturday Night Live! alum may join her as a guest host in the coming weeks.
Could this be Kelly's way of confirming the speculation to be true? We'll just have to wait and find out, but one thing is for sure: the 45-year-old has definitely been sending quite a few subliminal messages over the weeks following news of Strahan's departure.
The Malcom Gladwell Book: Kelly spent time celebrating her 20th anniversary with her husband Mark Consuelos after news of Strahan's exit broke, and thus took a few days off from Live!. Upon returning for her first da, she stepped out holding Gladwell's book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. The book "uncovers the hidden rules that shape the balance between the weak and the mighty, the powerful and the dispossessed."
The book seemed to be a message about the lack of communication between Kelly, Michael and the producers of the show—something she was vocal about during the episode in which she returned to Live!
The Divorce Comments: Kelly mentioned Strahan's two divorces on multiple occasions—much to his surprise—throughout their last few shows together, seemingly pointing out the fact that he might have some commitment issues and further revealing her feelings about his departure from Live!
The Freedom Jacket: The day before Strahan's final Live! show, Kelly stepped out wearing a white jacket with the word "Freedom" embroidered in red across the back—a message that seemed to refer to her fresh start following his departure.