Oprah Winfrey defends Kelly Ripa amid Michael Strahan ‘GMA’ drama: ‘Nobody should ever be blindsided’

The talk-show queen has spoken.

Oprah Winfrey issued a verdict Wednesday on “Live!” host Kelly Ripa belatedly learning her co-star Michael Strahan would be sidling over to “Good Morning America,” arguing that “nobody should ever be blindsided” like Ripa was.

“Blindsided is never good,” Winfrey told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet. “I don’t know who’s in charge, but somebody should’ve said, ‘This is gonna happen.’ You shouldn’t have to read it in the paper. Ever.”

 

Ripa — who took a “sick day” the day after Strahan’s Tuesday afternoon announcement — was apparently “shocked” with news of her TV husband’s departure in a meeting with Strahan and ABC bigwigs after their show wrapped earlier that day.

“This whole blindsiding thing is nonsense,” sources told the Daily News. “He got a great job offer and took it — same as anyone else would.”

Industry insiders were “stunned” by Ripa’s “diva” reaction, they told The News, as she has yet to publicly congratulate Strahan on his “GMA” gig and apparently even threw a fit.

But Winfrey offered a more positive spin, suggesting the daytime TV darling could fly solo — as she did on “Live!” from 2011 to 2012 — following her co-host’s departure this summer.

“Does she wanna do it by herself now? She could!” Winfrey said. “I had a co-host for a long time and I wanted to do it by myself, so I get it.”

BFF Gayle King, also present at Winfrey’s "Greenleaf" premiere, suggested boisterous Bravo host Andy Cohen as Strahan’s replacement.

“I wouldn’t be mad if Andy Cohen was sitting in the chair,” she said. “I think Andy and Kelly would be great.”

Coincidentally, Cohen posted a photo of himself and Ripa Thursday morning captioned, "#MorningQueen."

In the short-term, however, show producers have sought fill-ins for Ripa, with “Saturday Night Live” alum Ana Gasteyer subbing in during Wednesday’s sick day.

Ripa will be off the air until next Tuesday for a “previously scheduled vacation,” a rep for the show said. Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews will serve as Strahan’s guest co-host Thursday and Friday, and "Pretty Little Liars" star Shay Mitchell is expected to appear on Monday’s show.

Strahan will make his big move in September, the network said.

"I think Michael is so great. He's like a natural talent," Winfrey told ET. "And he's going to be great on 'Good Morning America.' He won't get any sleep, but he will be great."