Ripa Rips Clay

Monday, November 20, 2006

(11/20/06 - UNDATED) (WTVD) -- Talk show host Kelly Ripa blasted Clay Aiken for what she called disrespectful and inappropriate behavior during his guest appearence on "Live with Regis and Kelly" last week.

Clay co-hosted the show with Kelly this past Friday.

Some would say the American Idol and Raleigh native was tense with Ripa during their on-set interaction. At one point, he put his hand over her mouth during an interview with "Dancing with the Stars" winners Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke.

"No, no, no, you don't do that," Ripa said. "I don't know where that hand has been."

Monday morning, Ripa blasted the singer, telling Regis and viewers that Clay had been very disrespectful.

"When you're a certain person and when you're in the public eye, you have to be respectful of other people, and I don't think he was respectful in any way," she said. "If that upsets his fans, I'm sorry to hear that, but you know you don't put your hands over someone's face and mouth while conducting an interview. Even if its for a laugh, and that's all I'm gonna say."

Ripa did say there was no feud between the two.

Aiken's publicist told Eyewitness News that the singer has no comment.

"Claymates" are angry. Message boards on his Web site have been jammed all day, with fans saying Ripa was out of line and shot apologize.

Get more News »