Comedian Howie Mandel has admitted he regrets apologizing to Kelly Ripa after a heated on-air exchange. The incident occurred during a recent episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” when Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, complimented Mandel on his appearance after his 70th birthday.

The On-Air Exchange

The exchange began when Ripa and Consuelos congratulated Mandel on his milestone birthday. Mandel responded, “That doesn’t mean anything to me.” Ripa attempted to clarify, stating they weren’t implying he looked good for 70.

Mandel then retorted, “No, no — it’s like saying you’re smart for a stupid person. ‘Oh, you seem smart, you seem smart,’ you see, no, I don’t look good,” prompting laughter from the audience.

Initial Apology and Subsequent Regret

Following the backlash, Mandel initially apologized to Ripa in a video posted online. He explained that Ripa had been consistently supportive of his career, having hosted him on her show and co-hosted with him in the past. He stated, “But this is for Kelly Ripa, who in the past has been incredibly supportive.”

However, in a recent interview, Mandel expressed regret over the apology. “As I said in that post, which I kind of regret making, obviously I told a joke that didn’t land well,” Mandel said. He added that comedians often aim to make just one person laugh, but that apparently isn’t enough.

Uncertainty and Hope for Resolution

Mandel admitted he doesn’t “know what’s going on” or “when this will end,” referring to the ongoing criticism. He expressed a desire for the situation to resolve quickly, stating, “I didn’t mean to cause any disruption. I didn’t mean to embarrass anybody.”

Representatives for Ripa and Consuelos have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Mandel’s recent statements.

Mandel's Stance on Comedy

Mandel previously asserted that comedians shouldn’t have to apologize for jokes, but made an exception for Ripa. He initially conceded, “You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it that way.” He later jokingly added, “And after a lot of thought and self-reflection, I look great for my age. I really do.”