Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Open up About Their ‘Very Traditional’ and ‘Almost Old-Fashion’ Marriage
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are one of the most famous — and successful — celebrity couples in the entertainment industry. But when it comes to their home life, the pair are just like every other husband and wife duo.
During a recent interview, the couple opened up about their marriage, sharing that though they are hardworking individuals, their life together outside of work is as “traditional” as they come.
Kelly Ripa says she and Mark Consuelos are ‘very traditional’
While appearing on a recent episode of the Double Date podcast, Ripa and Consuelos opened up about their nearly 25-year marriage, which they call “very traditional.”
Though the couple considers themselves to be “progressive people,” they noted that they hold traditional roles in their marriage, despite their successful careers in show business.
“Mark is really the financial planner and Mark is responsible for every good financial thing that’s ever happened to us,” Ripa shared when asked how she and Consuelos divvy up responsibilities at home.
“And [Kelly] makes the home a home,” the actor added.
“What’s funny is I think of us as such a progressive as a couple. I always think of us as politically progressive… we’re progressive people,” the Live with Kelly and Ryan host said, adding, “And yet, when it comes to our own family and our marriage and our roles, I think of us as very traditional and almost old-fashioned in our roles.”
Kelly Ripa has embraced her role as a hands-on mom
Though they both have successful careers in the entertainment industry, Ripa notes that her job as a daytime talk show host has allowed her to be a hands-on mom to her and Consuelos’ three children: Michael, 23, Lola, 19, and Joaquin, 18.
Meanwhile, Consuelos has traveled for his acting career over the years. Because of his rigorous work schedule, Ripa’s “never had to leave home to work.”
“I’ve been able to raise my kids here in this city, in the nest, and he’s always been willing to travel and go to a set and go off here and sometimes he’s had to go live in another country to work on a set over there,” the famed talk show host said. “Traveling is hard and being away from home is hard and sometimes he would miss milestones for the kids, and I know that was hard for him.”
Ripa and Consuelos, who’ve been together since 1995, have always respected each other’s careers and aspirations. In fact, it was the actor who encouraged his wife to pursue the Live co-hosting gig, despite her hesitation that it would take away time from their home life.
“The talk-show opportunity came up and he’s like, ‘You know, I think you should do it.’ It seemed so out of my depth and not in my wheelhouse and not what I was used to,” Ripa shared. “And he said I think it will allow you to do the things that you’ve always wanted to do.”
She continued, “I wanted to raise my kids. I didn’t want to have them and never get to see them. And the talk show afforded me this opportunity where I would work in the morning, early in the morning, and then I would have the rest of the day to take them to their activities or be there and watch the ballet recital, be there and do all of those things.”
Despite his work obligations, Mark Consuelos still makes time for his family
Today, Ripa and Consuelos have a great family lifestyle even though the talk show has been more active than her husband at home.
“In that way, we’re very traditional. He made those sacrifices, but I think he wouldn’t know how to find a ballet class,” Ripa joked. “He wouldn’t know how to go about signing the kids up for religion classes.”
Still, Consuelos is proud of the role he has in their marriage, which is being the man of the house. He even described himself as “a traditional guy.”
“I feel like there are certain roles — it’s hard to explain exactly what those roles are,” he said. “We had a conversation where I said, ‘Hey listen, there’s really only room for one man in this relationship and it’s going to be me.'”
