EXCLUSIVE: Katie Couric Hopes Kelly Ripa Is 'Transparent' About 'Live!' Drama in Return
As Kelly Ripa prepares to return to Live! With Kelly and Michael on Tuesday, Katie Couric weighed in on how she thinks Ripa should handle the controversy surrounding Michael Strahan's exit.
"I hope she'll be transparent," Couric told ET at the New York Women In Communications 2016 Matrix Awards in New York City on Monday.
WATCH: Kelly Ripa Still Hasn't Talked to Michael Strahan Ahead of 'Live!' Return
Previously, a source told ET that Ripa was unhappy about being "blindsided" by Strahan's exit. According to the source, she was unaware of Strahan's deal to join Good Morning America until after shooting Live!'s April 19 episode -- the same day the news became public. Following the announcement, Ripa took time off from the job.
Couric sympathized with Ripa about being left in the dark.
"I don't know all the ins and outs. I only know what I've read, but I think that Kelly should have been included in the process of making a massive decision," Couric told ET. "Your partner on-air is critically important. I like them both and hopefully things will smooth over and they'll both be able to move forward with their incredible careers, because both Michael and Kelly are enormously talented and I really like them both. I think there's drama and the media loves drama so it's getting a lot of attention, but I'm sure they'll work it out."
WATCH: Michael Strahan Says He's 'Excited' for Kelly Ripa's Return to 'Live!'
A source close to Ripa tells ET that, as of Monday morning, the longtime Live! host still hadn't spoken to Strahan.
For his part, Strahan kept things professional on Monday's show, which he co-hosted with Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell.
"Good morning everybody! Everybody is fired up!" he told the crowd. "Kelly had a scheduled day off to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary with her husband Mark [Consuelos]. She is going to be back tomorrow, which we are all excited about!"
See more about the ongoing drama in the video below.