Overview
- In 2006 Aiken, filling in on Live with Regis and Kelly, placed his hand over Kelly Ripa’s mouth during a segment and Ripa immediately called the action disrespectful on air.
- The exchange drew wider attention when Rosie O’Donnell called Ripa’s reaction “homophobic” on The View and Ripa phoned in to defend herself, which pushed questions about Aiken’s sexuality into the public eye.
- Aiken, speaking on June 24 on the Hollywood Raw podcast, called the week after the incident “probably the most catastrophic week” of his life and said the publicity left lasting wounds.
- He says he later sent Ripa flowers, that she thanked him, apologized for the blowup and invited him back, but he also says they have not spoken since and attempts to return to the show were unsuccessful.
- Aiken says his team circulated archival clips of Ripa placing her hand over Regis Philbin’s mouth at other times to shift public perception, and he frames his 2026 comments as personal reflection rather than a new controversy.