Kelly Ripa vs. Clay Aiken vs. Rosie O’Donnell
November 22, 2006 
There was quite a cat fight on the morning talk shows this week, after American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, who was co-hosting Live with Regis and Kelly put his hands over co-host Kelly Ripa’s mouth, while conducting an interview. And then Rosie O’Donnell caused more friction when she called Ripa’s rebuke homophobic.
If you’re short on time, just watch video #3.
Here’s the original interview with Dancing with the Stars winners Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke, where Aiken covers Ripa’s mouth to try and get a question in as co-host (around 2:25):
Ripa responded by saying, “That’s a no-no. I don’t know where that hand’s been!”
On Monday’s Live with Regis Philbin back in the co-host seat, Kelly Ripa ripped into Clay Aiken, as Philbin tried to smooth things over:
Rosie O’Donnell got into the fray on Monday’s episode of The View. And then Kelly Ripa called into the show:
Rosie: “To me, that’s a homophobic remark. If that was a straight man, if that was a cute man, if that was a guy who she didn’t question his sexuality, she wouldn’t have said that…”
Kelly: “Its outrageous, Rosie, and you should know better.”
So wait, Clay Aiken is gay? I’m shocked!
November 29th, 2006 at 1:54 AM
This whole thing got blown out of proportion thanks to rosie”ok we know you’re gay” o’donnell. i dont like anybody putting their hands in my face, not even family. So what’s the big deal? How did this turn into a gay issue? And Rosie is the one slamming Clay with gay accusations, not Kelly. If I were gay, I might be convinced to go back in the closet until Rosie lesrns how to shut up and mind her business.
December 21st, 2006 at 9:44 AM
I agree with Venda. I am sooooo sick of Rosie O’Donnell. Now she has p’d off “The Donald” so maybe she will get shut up this time!