Kelly Rizzo, the widow of beloved Full House star Bob Saget, has offered a poignant and candid glimpse into the beginnings of their unlikely romance, confessing she initially placed him firmly in the 'friend zone'.
An Unlikely Match on a Celebrity App
The 46-year-old television host from Chicago appeared on Jack Osbourne's Trying Not To Die podcast this week, recounting how she first connected with the comedian. The couple met in 2015 and eventually married in October 2018 in Santa Monica, California. Their time together was cut tragically short when Saget died at age 65 in January 2022 from an accidental head injury.
Rizzo revealed their paths first crossed on the exclusive celebrity dating app, Raya. "He saw me on Raya, but I didn't see him," she told Osbourne. Despite never matching on the platform, a determined Saget looked her up on Instagram and then contacted a mutual friend in Chicago radio to inquire about her personality.
From Disinterest to Devotion
Rizzo admitted her first reaction to Saget's interest was far from enthusiastic. "I was like, 'Ew... why?' I was not interested at first," she said, citing their 23-year age gap and the fact he wasn't her usual 'type'. "It was so out of my realm of feasibility."
She explained to Osbourne that she immediately friend-zoned the star. "I kind of friend-zoned him because [a relationship] just wasn't on my radar." However, Saget's persistent and genuine direct messages began to change her mind. "I was like, 'Oh, he's quirky, he's funny, he's interesting.' And then I started to get roped in a little," Rizzo recalled.
A trip to Los Angeles to see him solidified her growing feelings. "I was like, 'I can't have a crush on Bob Saget. This is weird!'" she remembered. "And then I was like, 'He's pretty wonderful. Dammit!' So I was like, 'All right ... just stop fighting it.'" She praised his straightforward nature, saying, "He played no games" and was refreshingly direct about his feelings.
A Whirlwind Romance and Tragic Loss
Their relationship progressed rapidly after that. Rizzo moved in with Saget 10 months after they started dating, and the pair became engaged a year later. Their October 2018 wedding was described by a source at the time as a joyful, dance-filled celebration rather than an over-the-top celebrity affair.
Tragedy struck less than four years later when Saget was found unresponsive in his hotel room at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando on 9 January 2022. Initial investigations found no signs of foul play. The following month, his family and medical examiner confirmed his death was the result of accidental blunt head trauma. He had unknowingly hit his head, gone to sleep, and never woken up.
Moving Forward with Love and Memory
In the years since the tragedy, Rizzo has found love again. Last year, she went public with a new relationship with Clueless actor Breckin Meyer, 51. She has spoken warmly about how supportive Meyer has been, noting that he appreciates her past and is happy to talk about Saget.
"It's never like, 'Oh, I don't wanna mention Bob,'" Rizzo told E! News. "He's just always been so kind about it. It's been really special. It's really nice that I've been able to move forward with him." She expressed gratitude for having a "really special relationship now" while continuing to treasure her memories of Bob Saget.
