Kelly Ripa Says She Thought It Was an 'April Fool’s Prank' When She Learned She Was Named a Disney Legend

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelly Ripa.Photo:Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Despite her reigning status as the queen of daytime television,Kelly Ripawas surprised to learn she had been named as a Disney Legend.

While speaking with Disney CEOBob Igeron the Aug. 21 episode of herLet’s Talk Off Camerapodcast, the longtime talk show host admitted she was shocked to learn that she was being honored with the title at theD23event in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 11. The Disney Legend is an honor bestowed on individuals who have significantly influenced the company.

On her podcast, Ripa, 53, told Iger, 73, that she felt thrown “for a curveball” when she was given the honor.

Kelly Ripa becomes a Disney Legend at the D23 convention.The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company

“Again, [it was] one of the moments where I thought Deborah O’Connell was playing an April Fools prank on me,” she admitted before asking, “Why me? You needed a real person in there to sort of stabilize. There’s a lot of greatness, but then they’re like, ‘Okay. How do we honor regular people? Kelly?'”

Noting how “Disney Legends is basically the equivalent of Disney Hall of Fame,” Iger assured Ripa that her award was well-deserved. He explained that her achievements in television, like her time onAll My Childrenand hostingLive!, “have contributed mightily, not just to our success, but to what we represent to the world.“After Ripa revealed she’s been hostingLive!for a quarter of a century, Iger continued, “Yeah. So that’s 25 years, and think of the number just the sheer amount of time you’ve been on the air. Probably when you add that up, it’s right up there.”

“Ultimately, I approve this list,” he continued. “And, actually, I thought, well, why didn’t we think of that earlier? You actually have been worthy for a while. And I think it it speaks volumes about not only you, but the show too that you’ve been on now for so long and that we value.““It’s not just sitting in a chair and saying good morning every morning,” he added, explaining that the accolade was bestowed for “who you are and what you represent.”

Bob Iger on a stage in front of Disney logo.Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney

Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney

“Thank you so much, and Ryan, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m just so glad that you finally found something else to host,” Ripa began her speech. “This feels surreal for me, and I wanna thank Bob Iger for this truly magical experience.”

Later in her speech, Ripa stated that she “owes everything” to the Walt Disney Company — both professionally and personally — given that she met her “smoking hot husband"Mark Consueloson the set ofAll My Children.

Kelly Ripa gets the Disney Legends award at D23.The Walt Disney Company

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The mother of three then joked that the pair “made” their children — sons Michael and Joaquin, plus daughter Lola — “right backstage in the Disney labs.”

source: people.com