Kelly Ripa Reveals Ryan Seacrest's Wardrobe Woes on Live TV

Ripa and producer Gelman share behind-the-scenes stories about Seacrest's frequent pants-splitting incidents during their time hosting together.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:07pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a rich, velvety red fabric with dramatic shadows and highlights, conveying the luxurious yet precarious nature of live television fashion.The glamorous fabrics and high-stakes live television environment that hosts like Ryan Seacrest navigate can sometimes lead to unexpected wardrobe malfunctions.Manhattan Today

During a recent episode of 'Live with Kelly and Mark,' host Kelly Ripa opened up about a recurring wardrobe issue her former co-star Ryan Seacrest faced while they hosted the show together from 2017 to 2023. Ripa and the show's producer Michael Gelman recounted multiple instances where Seacrest would split his pants, often while performing simple tasks like bending over. Seacrest himself has previously acknowledged similar wardrobe malfunctions during live TV events.

Why it matters

The revelation provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the challenges live television hosts can face, even with seemingly mundane tasks. It also highlights the importance of proper fit and preparation for on-air talent, as well as the quick thinking required by production crews to handle unexpected situations.

The details

During the April 2nd episode, Ripa's husband and co-host Mark Consuelos brought up the topic of undergarments, joking that Ripa's predecessor, Seacrest, 'would split his pants here a lot!' Ripa confirmed this, saying Seacrest would 'split his pants constantly' and that there were numerous 'wardrobe malfunctions.' Producer Gelman elaborated, noting that Seacrest 'liked a tighter fit' in his pants, which led to issues when he would 'do athletic things' on set. Ripa recalled one specific incident where Seacrest split his pants just from bending over to pick up a tissue.

  • Seacrest co-hosted 'Live with Kelly and Ryan' from 2017 to 2023.
  • Ripa and Consuelos discussed Seacrest's pants-splitting issues on the April 2, 2026 episode of 'Live with Kelly and Mark'.

The players

Kelly Ripa

The longtime host of 'Live' who co-hosted the show with Ryan Seacrest from 2017 to 2023.

Ryan Seacrest

The television personality who co-hosted 'Live with Kelly and Ryan' alongside Ripa from 2017 to 2023, known for frequently splitting his pants on set.

Mark Consuelos

Ripa's husband who currently co-hosts 'Live with Kelly and Mark' after Seacrest's departure.

Michael Gelman

The long-time producer of 'Live' who corroborated the stories about Seacrest's wardrobe malfunctions.

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What they’re saying

“You should make sure you have a cotton crotch. I heard that [the] previous guy here, Ryan Seacrest, would split his pants here a lot!”

— Mark Consuelos, Co-host, Live with Kelly and Mark

“He'd split his pants constantly.”

— Kelly Ripa, Co-host, Live with Kelly and Mark

“He liked a tighter fit, but then he'd do athletic things...”

— Michael Gelman, Producer, Live with Kelly and Mark

“He bent over once! He picked up a tissue, and he split his pants!”

— Kelly Ripa, Co-host, Live with Kelly and Mark

What’s next

There are no clear future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

This behind-the-scenes look at the challenges faced by live television hosts underscores the importance of wardrobe preparation and the quick thinking required by production crews to handle unexpected on-air situations, even with seemingly mundane tasks.