New York, NY – Kelly Ripa and Bachelorette lead Jenn Tran expressed differing opinions on falling in love on television during an “Live With Kelly and Mark” episode on Monday. Tran, a 26-year-old physician assistant student, was asked by Ripa, 53, about her decision to seek a husband on a reality TV show.
When questioned why she chose reality television to find a husband, Tran asked where Ripa met her husband. Ripa and Mark Consuelos, the show’s co-hosts, revealed they met while working on the soap opera “All My Children” in the ’90s. Ripa clarified that meeting on a soap opera set differed from meeting on a Bachelor franchise show, emphasizing their professional acting careers. “We were both professional. Were you acting on your show?” Ripa asked, to which Tran humorously replied, “It depends.”
Ashley Iaconetti commented on the debate during her “Almost Famous” podcast with cohost Ben Higgins on Thursday, expressing disappointment in Ripa’s criticism of The Bachelor franchise.
Ripa defended her viewpoint by stating, “I didn’t marry Mateo Santos,” referring to Consuelos’s character on the show, “I married Mark Consuelos.”
One of the most popular shows on television, The Bachelorette, airs on Monday nights on ABC.