Kelly Ripa on the Defense After Referring to Son's Poverty

'We work and we expect our kids to as well,' says millionaire
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 24, 2019 6:37 AM CDT

Kelly Ripa is fending off attacks that she's "out of touch" after joking that her son is living in "extreme poverty." The talk show host appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday where she discussed how her eldest son, Michael, a New York University student, is faring now that he's living on his own in Brooklyn. "I think he loves the freedom. He hates paying his own rent, and he's chronically poor. I don't think he ever really experienced extreme poverty like now," Ripa said of the 22-year-old. The 49-year-old—who earns about $20 million a year for Live With Kelly and Ryan, per Forbes—added he's asked repeatedly when a $20 Halloween gift from his grandparents would turn up "just so he can have electricity."

Some social media users were offended, per Fox News. "'Extreme poverty?' Highly doubt it. Stop talking about things you have no clue about, Kelly Ripa. Ridiculous," wrote one. "The fact that she can speak glowingly about it definitely signals her son isn't actually in 'extreme poverty.' She so out of touch smh," wrote another. Ripa hit back at the "fake outrage" on Instagram Wednesday, per CNN. She said Michael is working full time while attending college and living "in his first non parent subsidized [apartment] with roommates." She and husband Mark Consuelos "didn't grow up privileged … we work and we expect our kids to as well," Ripa added, "and the fact that a pack of fools want to b***h about that, i say let em." (More Kelly Ripa stories.)

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