Kelly Ripa Has Suggested Divorce From Mark Consuelos More Than Once

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Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, have been married since May 1996, and they started working regularly together on "Live" in April 2023. Given the lovable duo's cozy onscreen banter, it's easy to get lulled into the idea that they are total #couplegoals. But Ripa and Consuelos' marriage has its share of red flags. In fact, a couple of times during their hit talk show, she has openly discussed divorcing him. For instance, in October 2024, Ripa had a silly reason for contemplating a "gray divorce" after listening to a captivating audio article. In contrast, Consuelos didn't see any humor in the topic, especially since he and his wife fit the demographic criteria.

Almost a year later, Ripa broached the topic of an "airport divorce." Rather than a legal ending to a marriage, this idea involves time apart leading up to a flight. "You and I have different traveling philosophies, different traveling styles," she asserted (via OK!). Despite the less-dire consequences of this type of arrangement, Consuelos still couldn't find the funny. He and his wife bickered back and forth on camera as they examined their differing perceptions about the actor's airport behavior.

While this subject matter may hit too close to home, Ripa has actually been debating different types of divorces on-air long before her husband became her co-host. Back in 2021, the former soap star and Ryan Seacrest discussed the idea of a "sleep divorce," aka couples sleeping in different beds/rooms. As Ripa is particularly aggrieved by Consuelos' snoring, she had some pretty strong feelings about it.

Although these divorce mentions seem to get under his skin, if Mark Consuelos had looked back at earlier moments in his relationship with Kelly Ripa, he would have felt at least some reassurance. For instance, when the "Riverdale" star ditched Ripa's wedding ring during an argument near the beginning of their marriage, her calm response was everything. "I said, 'I'm still here,'" she recalled on the "Double Date" podcast in 2022. "I'm scared, too. I get it. This is forever. I'm with you. Now we have to go find that ring." Happily, Consuelos was eventually able to reunite Ripa with her jewelry.

In other instances, the actor has been the one to take steps towards strengthening their bond, like when he suggested seeing a marriage counselor around the time Ripa and Consuelos' three kids were almost all grown up. "I'm a lifer. I want to be married forever," the former soap star affirmed on Ripa's podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera." In addition, Consuelos was also proactive about overcoming his jealousy. Ripa found this trait particularly difficult, and it even led to a brief breakup before they got hitched. 

Surprisingly, although the longtime "Live" host was open to couple's therapy when it was her suggestion, she wasn't as keen when Consuelos floated the idea. Once he persevered and attended solo, Ripa joined him. As she declared in her memoir, "Live Wire," "I believe we have stayed married this long because we have mastered the dark art of compromise."