Kelly Ripa’s source hits back at Kathie Lee Gifford for slamming new memoir over Regis Philbin’s claims

A source who claims to be close to Kelly Ripa responds to Kathie Lee Gifford’s comments by saying she has no intention of reading her new autobiographical book.

Gifford, the Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee with Regis Philbin for 12 years, wasn’t too pleased to read headlines about Ripa and Philbin’s relationship as described in Live Wire: Lengthy Short Stories.

Instead, the former Today show co-host says she does Her fondest memories are of her own memories of Philbin, who passed away in July 2020 at the age of 88.

Feud: A source close to Kelly Ripa responded to Kathie Lee Gifford’s claim that she had no plans to read her memoir due to comments about her former co-host Regis Philbin

“I’m very sorry to see the headlines,” Gifford said during an appearance on Good Day New York on Monday, before revealing she was hoping “that this wasn’t true.”

“I do not get it. I will not read the book. I did not read it. I don’t even know if it’s out yet,” Gifford, 69, revealed during an appearance on Good Day New York on Monday.

“I just know what Regis was to me. For 15 years he was the best partner a person could ever have professionally, but he was my friend.

After starting the original version of the show in 1988, Gifford and Philbin worked side by side until their emotional departure in July 2000.

“We were dear friends and after I left the show we became better friends, dear friends, for the next 20 years,” the television personality added.

Defense of Regis: “I don’t understand. I will not read the book. I did not read it. I don’t even know if it’s out yet,” revealed Gifford, 69, on Monday; The former colleagues are on Live! pictured. With Regis and Kathie Lee in 1988

In her book, Ripa described her relationship with Philbin as filled with “good days and bad days.”

Promoted on Amazon as a “sharp, funny, and honest collection of real-life stories by Kelly Ripa,” Ripa describes her relationship with Philbin as filled with “good days and bad.”

“I don’t want to feel like I’m beating up on anyone or being disrespected. But I also want people to know that it wasn’t a cakewalk,” the former soap star, 52, said of her time on the set of Live!

The New Jersey native went on to describe Philbin as “warm and kind” and “a great storyteller,” adding that she has “tremendous respect, admiration, and awe” for her former colleague.

Mixed bag: Ripa describes her relationship with Philbin as filled with “good days and bad days”; They are pictured during their first season together in 2001

After a 12-year run on All My Children, Ripa took over management of Gifford in February 2001, and so the nationally syndicated show became Live! With Regis and Kelly.

“It took me years to earn my place there and to earn things that are routinely given to the men I worked with, including an office and a place for my computer,” Ripa explained.

After Gifford’s quotes went viral, the Ripa insider spoke out entertainment tonight.

“It’s ironic that Kathie Lee’s comments will lead to more people buying the book and reading the truth about what Kelly said about Regis and all the other funny things in the book.”

The source continued, “Kelly has been extremely respectful of Regis and the situation, while also being open about her experience. It was a tiny part of Kelly’s book.”

“Their view: It took me years to earn my place there and to earn things that are routinely given to the men I’ve worked with, including an office and a place to put my computer,” explained Ripa about her time with Live! With Regis and Kelly; They are seen during Philbin’s farewell in 2011

Once dubbed “the hardest working man in show business,” the New York native Philbin worked alongside Ripa from February 2001 to November 2011.

During those 10 years, Gifford performed with Live! With Regis and Kelly on three occasions. The first was the 20th anniversary special, while the others were when Gifford was promoting a book and when she helped say goodbye to Philbin.

As for her thoughts on Ripa, Gifford said she doesn’t badmouth anyone.

“I won’t say anything ugly about anyone,” she said. “I never have and I’m not going to start now. I’m just saying my reality is something completely different.”

Out Now: Ripa’s new memoir, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, was released in late September