Outraged Kelly Skips Live After Michael Jumps Ship

Kelly Ripa didn't show up for Live! With Kelly and Michael Wednesday morning, and sources tell TMZ it's because she's outraged over the way Michael Strahan is handling his exit from the show. Ripa reportedly heard the news in a meeting with Strahan, a producer, and a network manager after Tuesday's show, but the meeting didn't take place until the same time Disney made the public announcement. Sources say Disney CEO Bob Iger told Strahan to keep the news secret from everyone, but Ripa believes she deserved to be told earlier than she was because she played such a big role in Strahan's rise to TV success. The rest of the Live! staff is also said to be none too happy they were kept in the dark.

Sources also say there's no love lost between Ripa and Strahan; Ripa reportedly thinks Strahan is conceited and doesn't respect her. Strahan reportedly reached out to Ripa after the announcement of his exit—and he lauded her at the end of Wednesday's show—but she has yet to respond. No one from Disney is said to have reached out to her, and sources say she feels Disney has made it obvious they only care about boosting Good Morning America (which Strahan is leaving to host) and not Live. Sources expect Ripa to miss more upcoming shows. (Here are the two rumored frontrunners for Strahan's Live! spot.)