Michael Strahan Hits the Gym With Girlfriend, Skips Red Carpet Event Amid 'Live!' Drama - See the Pic
Michael Strahan is keeping up his fitness routine amid his reported drama with his Live! With Kelly and Michael co-host, Kelly Ripa.
The 44-year-old former NFL pro was spotted hitting the gym with his girlfriend, 27-year-old Kayla Quick, in New York City at around noon on Wednesday, both showing off their impressive physiques in tight workout clothes. Quick, who flaunted her flawless bikini bod in March when the couple took a vacation to St. Barts, has been dating Strahan for over a year.
WATCH: Michael Strahan Shows Plenty of PDA With Bikini-Clad Girlfriend Kayla Quick During Sexy Vacay
Later that evening, Strahan was a no-show at the Food Bank For New York City's Can-Do Awards Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street, which he was scheduled to host alongside chef Mario Batali. Strahan did send a video message, though he offered no explanation for skipping the event.
"Well, actually folks, I wish I could be there as originally planned for this fantastic evening. I love it," he said. "I think it is one of the best evenings in all of New York. ... Let's make this night a night to remember and one that will make a huge impact for New Yorkers in need. You know what, you got to help others. That’s why you’re all there and that’s why we’re all here on this planet."
Strahan has been hosting Live! sans Ripa for the past two days, and will do so up until at least next Tuesday, after his co-host took an unplanned day off on Wednesday -- a day after he announced that he was leaving the show to go full-time at Good Morning America. A source told ET that the mother-of-three felt "blindsided" by Strahan's big move, and "is pissed" because she didn't know about Strahan's GMA deal until after shooting Tuesday's episode of Live!. The news broke the very same day.
Strahan did address the elephant in the room during the taping on Wednesday, after Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer had to fill in for Ripa at the last minute.
"Michael said during the break that it was 'a hard day' for everyone," a source told ET. "Michael was positive, professional and graceful throughout the shooting."
He has also continuously complemented Ripa on-air, most recently during his first appearance on GMA on Thursday since announcing the big move. "I'm going to miss everybody at Live!, sitting next to Kelly every day," he said. "I’ve been having a lot of fun on that show over the last four years and I'm very thankful to her because I've learned so much from her and [executive producer] Michael Gelman."
But a source told ET that there's definite tension between Strahan and Ripa, and that Ripa has threatened to not return to the show until Strahan leaves in September.
"She [Ripa] put her neck out for Michael to be a part of the show four years ago," the source said. "She is actually miserable with the show, has been for a while now...They have not [been] getting along that well recently, but this [takes] the cake."
WATCH: Kelly Ripa Is All Smiles While Stepping Out With Husband Mark Consuelos Amid 'Live' Drama
Meanwhile, Ripa, 45, was all smiles when she was snapped leaving her NYC townhouse on Thursday with her husband, Mark Consuelos. The couple headed to Turks and Caicos on a private plane to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, a source tells ET, and will return on April 25.
Looking perfectly polished in belted dress and heels, Ripa's choice of reading material was also pretty interesting. Ripa carried Malcolm Gladwell's best-selling novel, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, which according to its official description, "challenges how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering a new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against ... or endure any number of other apparent setbacks."
