Kelly Ripa Calls Into 'The View' About 'Homophobic' Comment

Kelly Ripa Calls Into 'The View' About 'Homophobic' Comment

Rosie O'Donnell Says She Thought Comment Was Homophobic

Darlene Dunn, Staff Writer
POSTED: 11:33 am EST November 21, 2006
UPDATED: 8:36 pm EST November 21, 2006

CLEVELAND -- Rosie O'Donnell, co-host of "The View," said Tuesday she was offended as a homosexual after Kelly Ripa made a comment about not knowing where Clay Aiken's hand had been during a recent show.

The comment stemmed from an incident on the "Regis and Kelly Show" while Aiken was guest co-hosting. During the show, Aiken put his hand over Ripa's mouth while she was conducting an interview with the winners of "Dancing With The Stars."

O'Donnell said she didn't believe that Ripa would have responded in the same manner if the visiting co-host had been someone considered heterosexual, such as Mario Lopez or a "straight man or a cute man."

When Aiken put his hand over Ripa's mouth, she said "that's a no no. I don't know where that hand has been, honey."

It seemed as if Ripa was on the phone within minutes to the show Tuesday.

"It's downright outrageous," Ripa said. "I never asked him about his sexuality."

Ripa, a mother of three, said she took issue with Aiken's hand over her mouth because it is flu season and he had shaken hands with many fans.

"To imply that it is anything homophobic is outrageous, Rosie, and you know better," she said. "You should be more responsible."

O'Donnell didn't back down off her stance.

"I have to tell you from where I sit as a gay person in the world I have to tell you that's how it came off to me," O'Donnell said.

Ripa said it never occurred to her that how she responded to Aiken's hand over her mouth would be viewed as homophobic, because the act was "outrageous, out of line and disrespectful."
Ripa said she took issue with what happened but "it's water under the bridge" to her now.

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