Former ‘Bachelor’ star Colton Underwood reacts to Kelly Ripa’s controversial comments on franchise
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former “Bachelor” star Colton Underwood shared his thoughts on Kelly Ripa's comments about the popular franchise that ultimately received backlash from the show's creator Mike Fleiss and host Chris Harrison.
“I obviously know that Kelly doesn’t like the show. I don’t know. I was on there. I think there’s some mutual level of respect. We’re both on ABC, so I don’t take it too [personally],” Underwood, who was the star of the 23rd season of “The Bachelor,” told Us Weekly.
“It really isn’t that big of a deal, it just got blown out of proportion,” he added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}KELLY RIPA RIPS 'BACHELOR' AND 'BACHELORETTE' FRANCHISE, SAYS IT ‘DISGUSTS’ HER
Earlier this month, Ripa, the “Live with Kelly and Ryan” co-host, slammed both shows shortly after Ryan Seacrest, her fellow co-host, announced that Hannah Brown was slated to make an appearance on their talk show. Brown, the newest Bachelorette, was a contestant in the 23rd season of "The Bachelor" but was ultimately not chosen by Underwood.
“It really isn’t that big of a deal, it just got blown out of proportion," Underwood said of Ripa's comments. (Getty)
"You guys know how I feel about the show — it disgusts me," she said of "The Bachelorette,” later calling “The Bachelor” a “gross, gross show” while making it clear she doesn't agree with the general concept of competing with other people to date someone.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ripa’s comments quickly sparked a reaction from the "Bachelor/Bachelorette" creator Fleiss and host Harrison.
Fleiss quickly took to Twitter to defend his shows and remind Ripa where her paycheck comes from.
ELLEN POMPEO DEFENDS KELLY RIPA AFTER 'BACHELOR’ CREATOR CLAIMS FRANCHISE 'PAYS YOUR SALARY'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Easy, @KellyRipa … #TheBachelor franchise pays your salary!” Fleiss, 55, tweeted.
Harrison chimed in, too, tweeting: "Look out #BachelorNation @KellyRipa is coming after you and your ‘disgusting’ Monday night habit."
Fleiss’s reaction, specifically, drew responses from other celebrities such as actress Ellen Pompeo, the star of the long-running ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy,” and media personality Wendy Williams. Both defended Ripa over her comments.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Underwood, shortly after Ripa’s made her comments on the franchise, took to Twitter to seemingly throw shade at the former “All My Children” star.
WENDY WILLIAMS DEFENDS KELLY RIPA OVER ‘BACHELOR’ FRANCHISE COMMENTS, CALLS SHOWS ‘DEGRADING’
“How mad is Kelly Ripa going to be when The Bachelor wins an Emmy this year?” #ThankYouForYourConsideration,” he wrote.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Speaking to Us Weekly, Underwood insisted his tweet was “all in good fun”
“I mean, I knew going into the show that she didn’t really agree with what ‘The Bachelor’ is, but that’s OK,” he said. “It’s OK to have opinions and to stand by them.”