“We Left Everything Behind”: Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Announce Retirement from Television

On July 29, 2025, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, the beloved co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark, stunned the entertainment world by announcing their retirement from television after over three decades in the industry. The couple, who met on the set of All My Children in 1995 and married in 1996, shared the news during a tearful episode of their show, leaving fans reeling. Alongside the announcement, they revealed a “shocking secret” kept for decades: their marriage nearly ended early on due to a hidden struggle with infertility, a revelation that has left audiences in disbelief. As the couple prepares to step away from the spotlight, their decision to “leave everything behind” marks the end of an era and prompts reflection on their legacy, their personal journey, and the future of daytime television.

The announcement came during a special episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, filmed at their new studio in Disney’s Robert A. Iger Building at 7 Hudson Square. Ripa, 54, began by reflecting on their 37-year tenure at the show’s original Upper West Side studio, where their three children—Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 22—“grew up backstage.” Consuelos, also 54, added, “This place has been our home, but we’ve decided it’s time to move on.” The couple revealed that their final episode will air in December 2025, citing a desire to focus on their family and their production company, Milojo, named after their children. “We left everything behind to build something new,” Ripa said, hinting at a future outside television.

The “shocking secret” emerged during an emotional segment. Ripa, known for her candid humor, disclosed that in the early years of their marriage, the couple faced a private battle with infertility. “We almost didn’t make it,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “For years, we thought we’d never have kids, and it nearly tore us apart.” Consuelos, visibly moved, explained that they kept this struggle hidden, even from close friends, fearing it would define their public image. “We were young, in love, but struggling silently,” he said. The couple underwent fertility treatments in the late 1990s, a process Ripa described as “humbling and isolating.” Their first child, Michael, was born in 1997 after multiple failed attempts, a milestone they called “our miracle.” This revelation, shared for the first time, stunned fans, with one X post reading, “Kelly and Mark hid that for decades? My heart’s breaking for them.”

The decision to retire follows years of speculation about Ripa’s intentions. In a 2023 interview with The Purist, she admitted to thinking about retirement “with great interest,” though she emphasized her happiness working with Consuelos, who joined as co-host in April 2023 after Ryan Seacrest’s departure. Consuelos echoed this in a 2023 Entertainment Tonight interview, calling her potential exit “a real thing” after her 23-year tenure but noting she was “having a blast.” The couple’s recent ventures, including their ESPN docuseries Running with the Wolves about their ownership of Italy’s Campobasso FC, showcased their ability to pivot beyond talk shows. However, Ripa’s comments on Late Night with Seth Meyers in July 2025 hinted at strain, as she jokingly said Consuelos’ soccer venture “ruined the serenity of our house.”

Fans and media have speculated about deeper reasons for their exit. The View’s financial struggles, with a 30% ad revenue drop since 2020, and CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert due to $40 million annual losses, highlight the precarious state of network television. Live with Kelly and Mark, while still averaging 2.3 million viewers daily, faces similar pressures, with production costs outpacing ad revenue in a streaming-dominated era. Some X users suggested the couple’s departure was strategic, with one writing, “Kelly and Mark are jumping ship before the industry sinks.” Others believe their focus on Milojo, which produced projects like The Streak and Exhumed, signals a shift to behind-the-scenes work.

The infertility revelation adds a layer of humanity to their polished image. Ripa, who won seven Daytime Emmy Awards, and Consuelos, a former soap star, have long been seen as a perfect Hollywood couple. Their chemistry, evident since their All My Children days, translated into a successful talk show dynamic, but their openness about personal struggles has resonated deeply. “We didn’t want pity,” Ripa said on air. “We wanted to protect our joy.” Fans flooded social media with support, with comments like “Kelly and Mark sharing their infertility story is so brave” and “This explains their bond.” The couple’s decision to share now, they explained, was to inspire others facing similar challenges.

The retirement announcement has sparked concerns about Live’s future. The show, a staple since 1988 with hosts like Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford, may struggle without Ripa’s star power. ABC has not named a replacement, though Ripa hinted at grooming younger hosts for a “seamless transition” in a 2023 HELLO! interview. The move to Hudson Square, completed in April 2025, was meant to modernize the show, but industry insiders question its viability as streaming platforms dominate.

As Ripa and Consuelos prepare to leave, their legacy endures. Their 29-year marriage, three children, and contributions to television—from All My Children to Live—have left an indelible mark. Their docuseries, set to air its finale on July 31, 2025, has been praised for showcasing their resilience as soccer team owners, a metaphor for their personal journey. Whether their retirement is a true exit or a pivot to new ventures, their decision to “leave everything behind” has sparked admiration and heartbreak, cementing their place as television icons.