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Michael Strahan Defends Leaving ‘Live With Kelly and Michael' in New Interview

The former 'Live' co-host talks his early exit and Kelly Ripa's reaction

Michael Strahan expressed his disappointment with the reaction his former co-host, Kelly Ripa, had to his exit from "Live With Kelly and Michael" while defending himself in a new interview.

"The most disappointing thing to me was that I was painted as the bad guy, because I value the way I carry myself," he said in an interview with People Magazine.

After spending four years on the show, Strahan announced in April he would be leaving for a position as a co-host on "Good Morning America." Following the abrupt announcement, Ripa took off from work the next day — it was revealed she wasn't given earlier notice of his departure.

The former New York Giant and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end insists he did nothing wrong, as the news was delivered three months before his would-be exit. Strahan said he had no regrets about the situation.

"I think you have regrets or you feel bad about something if you feel like you did something wrong, or you did it in the wrong way," Strahan said. "I felt like I went about it in the best way possible."

While he acknowledged that others may not agree, Strahan defended his actions, saying that he remained honorable and accountable to all involved.

Of his friendship with Ripa, Strahan said, "I don't know what it is to be honest with you. I wish her well though."

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