“Live With Kelly and Mark” EP Michael Gelman reacts to Howie Mandel's 'apology' video after tense on-air exchange

Shania RussellMon, March 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC

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Michael Gelman, Kelly Ripa, and Howie MandelCredit: Getty(3)

Howie Mandel is finally getting some credit for his sense of humor.

Last week, the TV personality was at the center of a tense on-air exchange with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos after refusing to accept a compliment that he deemed backhanded on their morning talk show.

Days later, Mandel apologized to Ripa and the producers of Live With Kelly and Mark for the way his joke landed and quipped that the hosts were right all along: "I do, I look great for my age."

In the comments section of the video, several of Mandel's fans and comedian friends praised his sense of humor and snarky apology. He even earned a reply from Live EP Michael Gelman, who he directly names in the video.

"During these divided times, one thing we can all agree upon is that you do look great," Gelman commented, cheekily adding, "...For your age."

Several other stars weighed in on Mandel's "apology," including pals like Terry Crews and Tom Bergeron.

Howie MandelCredit: Jesse Grant/Getty

"I’m sorry you look so good," Crews wrote in the comments section.

Meanwhile, Bergeron commended Mandel, writing, "That was the smoothest pivot to self-love I’ve ever seen… apart from my own morning conversations to my mirror."

Actor Stephen Baldwin remarked, "Everything’s right on schedule Howie you don’t have to apologize for anything ever because you’re so young and beautiful and that’s what matters keep in mind and eternity of vanity is a discovery too late."

Film producer Brett Gursky added, "People probably aren’t going to get that this apology is also part of the joke."

The initial March 23 exchange got heated after Consuelos noted that Mandel turned 70 in November and complimented him for looking "great."

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Ripa then commented that his age "doesn't make any sense," prompting Mandel to ask, "What do you mean it doesn't make any sense?"

When Consuelos again affirmed that Mandel looks "great," the America's Got Talent judge appeared upset as he snapped back, "I look great? That doesn't mean anything to me. No, no, no, no. I don't like that, because that's a caveat."

Ripa defended, "We're not saying you look great for 70. You look great."

But Mandel maintained that it was a backhanded compliment, firing back, "It's like saying you're smart for a stupid person."

Howie Mandel, Kelly Ripa, and Mark Consuelos on 'Live With Kelly and Mark'Credit: ABC

While viewers were confused about whether or not Mandel was genuinely upset or joking around, a source close to the situation told Entertainment Weekly that the exchange was "casual banter" between the cohosts and Mandel. However, social media users questioned whether this was truly the case after rumors emerged that Ripa was genuinely upset about the joke.

Representatives for Ripa did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment.

In his apology video, Mandel said that in his five decades as a comedian, he has never felt the need to offer a public apology. "Philosophically I don't believe that somebody who's a comedian needs to apologize for a joke," he explained. "It is a joke. It is meant as a joke. And it's not meant to offend."

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Still, he mentioned Ripa by name and continued, "When I go out there, I just try to be entertaining and funny and sometimes as a comedian, things don't land the way you mean them to land. And I don't know how to say this, but not only do I want to say I'm sorry to Kelly but — and this is the hardest part — you're right."

He finished by quipping, "You're absolutely right. I'm sorry I didn't see it that way. And after a lot of thought and self-reflection… I do. I look great for my age. I really do. I look fantastic."

on Entertainment Weekly

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