\n<\/aside>\nAiken, who has been active in the New York City Broadway scene and society, explained he\u2019s seen Ripa, 55, at some events.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe I should feel bad that I have not gone up and said something myself, but she hasn\u2019t either,\u201d\u00a0he said. \u201cWe\u2019re talking about something that happened \u2014 20 years ago \u2014 which became this huge blowup.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the most catastrophic week of my life,\u201d the musician added. \u201cNo one would remember but me because I was the one with the scars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on the show because I wanted to show them I could handle this myself; I could host something and I wasn\u2019t getting to talk,\u201d\u00a0he said.<\/p>\nHowever, Aiken (seen above) hasn\u2019t talked to Ripa since. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cThat was the most catastrophic week of my life,\u201d the musician (photographed here) added. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cLike, there were cue cards. They had my name on them. So I tried to be funny, and I did what I did, which was incredibly innocent. And then it got a little cold in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aiken admitted that he felt bad and was \u201cworried\u201d that he had upset Ripa after seeing the audience \u201cfrozen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that a no-no?\u201d Aiken asked Ripa at the time, to which she responded, \u201cOh, that\u2019s a no, no,\u00a0no. Don\u2019t know where that hand\u2019s been, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
The TV personality shared on the podcast that he didn\u2019t remember how he and Ripa parted ways, but it wasn\u2019t until the following week, when the latter\u2019s co-host, Regis Philbin, had returned, that the situation escalated. <\/p>\n
At the time, Philbin, who died in 2020, and Ripa discussed Aiken\u2019s\u00a0\u201chostility.\u201d <\/p>\n\u201cNo one would remember but me because I was the one with the scars,\u201d he continued. (Seen above: Aiken). ABC via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cLike, there were cue cards. They had my name on them. So I tried to be funny, and I did what I did, which was incredibly innocent. And then it got a little cold in the room,\u201d Aiken stated. (Seen here: Ripa). GC Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cThere was a lack of respect, and when you\u2019re a certain person, you\u2019re in the public eye, you have to be respectful of other people,\u201d Ripa told her co-host. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I don\u2019t think that he was respectful in any way. If that upsets his fans, I\u2019m sorry to hear that, but you don\u2019t put your hands over somebody\u2019s face and mouth when they\u2019re conducting an interview, even if it\u2019s for a laugh. And that\u2019s all I\u2019m gonna say.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then the following day, Rosie O\u2019Donnell addressed the incident on \u201cThe View\u201d and referred to Ripa as \u00a0\u201chomophobic\u201d despite Aiken not having been out yet.<\/p>\n
Ripa responded to the actress by calling into the talk show to defend herself, stating, \u201cI have three kids. He\u2019s shaking hands with everybody in the audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s cold and flu season. That\u2019s what I meant. To imply that it\u2019s anything homophobic is outrageous, Rosie, and you know better. You should be more responsible,\u201d the TV personality told O\u2019Donnell.<\/p>\nAt the time, Ripa (seen here) told Aiken that his actions weren\u2019t OK. FilmMagic<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShe also called out Aiken on the following show. (Seen above: Ripa and Regis Philbin). WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nRecalling the \u201cblow up,\u201d Aiken said, \u201cI was not out at the time. I was to Rosie \u2026 I was out to people who I knew, but I wasn\u2019t publicly out about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not out to my grandparents and the people in my family. And not only does Rosie call it a homophobic remark \u2014 which I think she accidentally said, and then she tried to walk it back a little bit \u2014 but then Kelly calls in live to\u00a0\u2018The View\u2019 that day and they get in an argument over it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The actor added, \u201cNot only did she out me, but they had a big argument about whether I was gay and who talked about me being gay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That same week, Aiken reflected on how his \u201cwonderful publicist\u201d and interns did \u201cgreat work\u201d on finding videos of Ripa placing her hand over Philbin\u2019s mouth throughout the years and sending the clips to the media.<\/p>\n\u201cThere was a lack of respect, and when you\u2019re a certain person, you\u2019re in the public eye, you have to be respectful of other people,\u201d Ripa (seen here with Mark Consuelos) said at the time. Gregory Pace\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAiken (seen here) later tried to make amends by sending Ripa flowers. WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cThe tides sort of turned,\u201d Aiken said, explaining that he then sent Ripa flowers, which she thanked him for and allegedly apologized for \u201cblowing\u201d the situation out of proportion.<\/p>\n
Per Aiken, Ripa extended an olive branch to him and an offer to return to the show. However, the Broadway star alleged that he\u2019s \u201ctried\u201d to appear on the show but has been unable to return.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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