Howie Mandel is clearing the air following a viral, slightly awkward moment with Kelly Ripa on daytime television—though he is doing it with his signature comedic spin.
The America's Got Talent judge recently appeared on the March 24 broadcast of Live With Kelly and Mark. During the interview, Ripa and her co-host husband, Mark Consuelos, marveled at the 70-year-old comedian's youthful appearance, praising him for looking "great." Mandel quickly rejected the caveat of looking good for his age, quipping that the phrasing is similar to telling someone they are "smart for a stupid person."
Days later, Mandel took to Instagram from a sunny beach to address the banter, ensuring fans knew there was no bad blood between him and the long-time talk show host.
"I have been debating for 48 hours whether I should make this post or not," Mandel shared in the March 29 video. "I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing. Philosophically, I don’t believe that somebody who is a comedian needs to apologize for a joke."
However, he made an exception for Ripa, citing their years of friendship, her unwavering support, and his previous stints as her guest co-host.
"It is a joke. It is meant as a joke, and it’s not meant to offend," Mandel clarified, adding that his primary goal on talk shows is simply to entertain. "Sometimes as a comedian, things don’t land the way you mean them to land."
Of course, the Deal or No Deal star couldn't resist capping off his heartfelt message with a punchline, finally accepting Ripa's original compliment.
"Not only do I want to say I’m sorry to Kelly but, and this is the hardest part, you’re right. You’re absolutely right," Mandel joked. "And I’m sorry I didn’t see it that way. But after a lot of thought and self-reflection, I look great for my age, I really do. I look fantastic, and I just have to embrace the fact that I look this good."