Howie Mandel apologizes for heated exchange on-air with Kelly Ripa

Howie Mandel addressed his testy on-air exchange during his “Live pinch Kelly and Mark” interview, apologizing personally to big Kelly Ripa.

The 70-year-old comedian’s awkward relationship pinch Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, went viral past week aft he snapped astatine them complete their compliment that he looked awesome astatine 70.

“No, no. It’s for illustration saying you’re smart for a stupid person,” he said astir why he didn’t for illustration nan praise. “‘Oh, you look smart, you look smart,’ you see, no, I don’t look good.”

In an Instagram video Sunday, Mandel said he debated addressing nan business astatine all, noting that he doesn’t deliberation comedians should person to apologize for their jokes.

However, he said he was doing it for Ripa, whom he’s had a affirmative moving narration pinch for years.

“It is simply a joke. It is meant arsenic a joke, and it’s not meant to offend,” he said of their exchange, adding that making nan video was “hard” for him arsenic he hasn’t apologized for thing successful his 50 years arsenic a comedian.

“But this is for Kelly Ripa, who successful nan past has been incredibly supportive,” he continued. “Not only person I been a impermanent connected her show, but I person cohosted pinch her and I’ve known her for years.”

He admitted that his consequence to nan compliment didn’t travel disconnected nan measurement he wanted it to.

“When I spell retired location I conscionable effort to beryllium entertaining and funny, and sometimes arsenic a comedian things don’t onshore nan measurement you mean them to land,” he explained.

Ultimately, he said he agreed pinch Ripa’s sentiment that he looks awesome for his age.

“Not only do I want to opportunity I’m sorry to Kelly — and this is nan hardest portion — you’re right. You’re perfectly right, and I’m sorry I didn’t spot it that way,” he said.

He concluded, “And aft a batch of thought and self-reflection, I look awesome for my age. I really do. I look awesome and I conscionable person to clasp nan truth that I look this good.”

The “America’s Got Talent” judge received backlash aft nan question and reply from fans who felt he reacted poorly to Ripa and Consuelos’ well-intentioned compliment.

Mandel told nan hosts that noting he looks awesome astatine his property “doesn’t mean anything.”

Ripa past assured Mandel that nan hosts were “not saying you look awesome for 70 [years old].” Rather, “We’re saying you look awesome and I don’t judge you’re 70.”