Kelly Ripa 'Refusing' to Return to Live!, Source Says as Departing Michael Strahan Tells Absent Co-Host 'I Love You' on Air

Kelly Ripa 'Refusing' to Return to Live!, Source Says as Departing Michael Strahan Tells Absent Co-Host 'I Love You' on Air

Kelly Ripa was absent from Wednesday's adventure of Live! With Kelly and Michael – and a antecedent tells PEOPLE it's cryptic if she'll return.

"Kelly told ABC she wasn't advancing in endure night," says the source. "They don’t apperceive yet if she'll be back."

Another TV antecedent says Ripa is currently "refusing to appear back" and that while she could adjudge to acknowledgment anytime, her plan is not to for the blow of this week.

A altered cabal told PEOPLE Ripa was "completely blindsided" by the Tuesday advertisement that her co-host Michael Strahan would be abrogation the allocution appearance to accompany Good Morning America as a abounding time co-anchor in September.

Of Strahan, 44, the TV antecedent says: "He's a chic act. He's aggravating to do what he thinks is right, that's important to him."

A rep for Live! told PEOPLE Ripa "had the day off," and Ana Gasteyer abounding in for the brilliant Wednesday morning.

Strahan, 44, meanwhile, took a moment to abode his co-host of four years at the end of Wednesday's segment.

"I absolutely wish to thank, of course, Kelly Ripa," he said. "Kelly accustomed me actuality and I've abstruse so abundant from her. She's just been an amazing access on me and this has absolutely afflicted my activity to be actuality with her."

"And I apperceive that the appearance will abide to be able and abundant because of Kelly ... and the agents actuality because everybody actuality is so talented," he added. "This appearance has not been about for over 30 years by mistake."

"Kelly, I acknowledge you. I adulation you and anybody abroad actuality at Live!, and I'm not traveling to cry on TV momma, I affiance you," he concluded.

Live! With Kelly and Michael affectedness weekdays (9 a.m. ET) on ABC.

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