DRAMA

Michael Strahan to Exit ‘Live!’ Much Earlier Than Announced

Four months before original departure date.

Michael Strahan will be vacating his Live! co-hosting chair four months earlier than previously announced. “May 13 is his last show,” a source told People magazine; a fact later confirmed by CNN’s Brian Stelter. “He’ll take the summer off and GMA can integrate him early before September, and this will give Live! more time to find the co-host. He’s totally fine with that. Now he can enjoy his summer.” Strahan’s departure previously caused tension at the show, stunning his co-host Kelly Ripa into taking a brief hiatus in protest of the network’s handling of the situation. She returned to air Tuesday after executives delivered a personal apology.