It seems Ryan Seacrest knows his place!
The former American Idol star joined Live With Kelly in early May — and he and co-host Kelly Ripa have been quite the dynamic duo ever since. However, Ryan very well understands his role after joining a show that Kelly has been a part of since 2001.
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“With Ryan, there’s no competition,” an insider tells Closer Weekly in an exclusive interview. “Kelly is clearly the boss. Ryan knows that, and he’s respectful. But Kelly says she and Ryan have a very equal partnership.”
After being abruptly left by her former co-hosts Regis Philbin in 2011 and Michael Strahan last year, Kelly had to make it a point to be treated like an equal at the network since she had been blindsided time and time again.
“She had to set some boundaries,” the insider adds. “She does feel more respected now by
ABC, but that took some work.”
MORE: Kelly Ripa’s One Warning for New ‘Live’ Co-Host Ryan Seacrest Is So Funny!
And now that Kelly, 46, has Ryan, 42, by her side, she couldn’t be happier. “He is just so professional and kind to everyone,” she previously told People.
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“It had to be somebody we would all want to hang out with — and not just on camera,” she added. “Because we all do hang out together when we’re not on-camera. That’s an important thing.”
For more on Kelly and Ryan, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on stands now!
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Click through the gallery below to see Kelly Ripa’s transformation!
