EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Ripa CANCELS 20th anniversary getaway to Turks and Caicos with husband Mark Consuelos in wake of Michael Strahan shock resignation

  • Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos had been planning a vacation to Turks and Caicos this weekend to celebrate their anniversary
  • It will be 20 years since the two made the decision to elope and marry in a low-key Las Vegas ceremony on May 1, 1996, one year after they meet
  • Ripa cancelled the vacation however in the wake of Michael Strahan's announcement that he was quitting Live With Kelly and Michael
  • Source close to Ripa say the talk show host was 'upset' the news was told to her before her much anticipated vacation
  • 'She’s very hurt as she feels they have destroyed what was a significant milestone in her life,' a source told DailyMail.com

Kelly Ripa is not only skipping out on work this week, but also a tropical getaway she had planned to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary to husband Mark Consuelos.

The Live With Kelly and Michael host had been set to fly off to Turks and Caicos for a long weekend but has scrapped those plans after learning earlier this week that her co-host Michael Strahan was quitting their show come September and moving over to Good Morning America.

Sources close to Ripa tell DailyMail.com that news of Strahan's departure was difficult enough for Ripa to deal with and she cannot believe the decision was made to tell her about the move just days before her much anticipated vacation.

'The reason Kelly is upset is that ABC knew of her long standing vacation plans for the end of this week, and this is the week they chose to stick the knife in her back,' said one source.

'She had advised them that she was taking a vacation with Mark to Turks and Caicos to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, yet they chose to dump the news on her after they had made their decision and just a few days out from her scheduled trip.

'She’s very hurt as she feels they have destroyed what was a significant milestone in her life and late last night they cancelled their initial plans.'

The source later added; 'What should be a really happy time for her and Mark has now been destroyed as rather than focusing on her family she and her team face an uncertain future with a network that she doesn’t believe supports her.

'It really is a David and Goliath battle for her.' 

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Getaway: Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos (above on Thursday) had been planning a vacation to Turks and Caicos this weekend to celebrate their anniversary

Getaway: Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos (above on Thursday) had been planning a vacation to Turks and Caicos this weekend to celebrate their anniversary

No more getaway: Ripa cancelled the vacation however in the wake of Michael Strahan's announcement that he was quitting Live With Kelly and Michael (Ripa and Consuelos above on Thursday)

No more getaway: Ripa cancelled the vacation however in the wake of Michael Strahan's announcement that he was quitting Live With Kelly and Michael (Ripa and Consuelos above on Thursday)

The beginning: It will be 20 years since the two made the decision to elope and marry in a low-key Las Vegas ceremony on May 1, 1996 (above) one year after they meet

The beginning: It will be 20 years since the two made the decision to elope and marry in a low-key Las Vegas ceremony on May 1, 1996 (above) one year after they meet

The network's decision to move Strahan to Good Morning America comes after her spent two years on the show in a limited capacity, appearing two days a week and leaving early so he could head off to tape Live.

That job however was only offered to him after his co-host turned it down according to sources close to Ripa and with knowledge of the situation.

'Two years ago Kelly was offered Michael’s current role of contributor to Good Morning America. She turned this down as she was committed to Live and didn’t want to give less to the show that she had been focused on for well over ten years and then kept a ratings winner after Regis left,' said one source.

'Michael then scooped up the role and started saying yes to everything ABC and Disney had to offer. 

'Kelly felt that her and Michael Gelman, Live’s Executive Producer, were left to be the only two people solely focused on the show.

The source went on to say; 'This began creating tensions internally as Kelly and Michael Gelman were having to work to Michael’s schedule as Live become less of a priority for him.

'Kelly isn’t shocked that he did this as she’s watched him advance his career off Live’s success for years now, she is just disgusted and angry that he did this behind her back with her bosses.'

Meanwhile, conflicting reports are emerging about how the staff at Live With Kelly and Michael are dealing with their boss' absence this week, with one source close to Ripa telling DailyMail.com; 'Live staffers are upset. Kelly has been inundated with calls and messages from the team. 

'They blame Disney management and want her to come back to work as they see her as the star of the show who also has their back.'

Multiple sources close to the show tell a different story however, saying that it is Strahan the staff is supporting while his co-host skips work. 

'They feel like Michael’s taking the high road but Kelly’s the one who blindsided them by not showing up for work,' said one source.

'The feeling is that how she’s acting is deeply selfish.'

The source went on to say; 'Staff are upset that she’s not there. They are pulling a double shift today while she’s left them in the lurch after her tantrum.' 

Ripa and Consuelos were seen leaving their $27million townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side Thursday morning, but neither carried any luggage as they dashed into a waiting car.

Anger: Source close to Ripa say the talk show host was 'furious' that the news of Strahan's departure was told to her before her much anticipated vacation (Strahan and Ripa above last October)

Anger: Source close to Ripa say the talk show host was 'furious' that the news of Strahan's departure was told to her before her much anticipated vacation (Strahan and Ripa above last October)

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos

So in love: 'She’s very hurt as she feels they have destroyed what was a significant milestone in her life,' said a source

It will be 20 years since the two made the decision in 1996 to elope and marry in a low-key Las Vegas ceremony on May 1, one year after they meet on the set of the soap opera All My Children.

The two were never engaged and Ripa has said in the past they made the decision after learning they both had two days off from work.

Since that time they have welcomed three children; 18-year-old Michael, 14-year-old Lola and 13-year-old Joaquin.

They have also watched as their public profiles and fortune grew, thanks in large part to Ripa landing the job of a lifetime when she was selected from a long list of possible candidates to take over for Kathie Lee Gifford on Live With Regis and Kathie Lee.

She then got another promotion in 2011 with the news that her co-host Regis Philbin was leaving the show, and a year later Strahan was brought on as a replacement for Philbin.

Ripa was less than thrilled with the decision made by Philbin and the network back then as well, with her co-host telling her the news of his departure as they walked on to set just minutes before announcing it to the world on live television.

Her salary on the show has never been confirmed, but has been reported to be somewhere in the region of $15 to $20million a year.

In addition to her multimillion dollar townhouse she and her husband also own a home in Southampton and recently sold their previous pad - a two-floor penthouse apartment in Manhattan's trendy Soho district - for a reported $20million.

Ripa and Consuelos also enjoy vacationing with friends, and frequently post photos of their tropical getaways with pals like Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Bryan Lourd and Bruce Bozzi, and Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg.

The talk show host revealed to Oprah Winfrey in a interview a few years ago that one of her favorite places to go is the Amanyara Resort in Turks and Caicos. 

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