In a candid and humorous revelation, television hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have once again proven themselves as masters of oversharing personal details. Ripa recently disclosed a secret signal she uses to let her husband know they are not having sex, sparking laughter and conversation among fans.
The Koala Comparison and Retainer Signal
The topic emerged during a recent broadcast when Ripa, 55, shared a fun fact about koalas, noting that they handle sexual rejection by simply taking a nap, given their tendency to sleep 18 to 22 hours daily. Turning to Consuelos, also 55, she exclaimed, "It's like you!" before bursting into laughter.
Consuelos mimed the scenario, saying, "I come to bed with my little eucalyptus leaf, and I'm like, 'Hey, you want to fool around?' No? Okay." Ripa then dramatically turned away and explained to the audience, "He hears the retainer pop in, it's like a chastity belt." Consuelos agreed, adding, "When you put it in, it's like, click, click, click. Alright, guess I'm going to bed."
Morning Intimacy Hurdles and Compromises
Ripa further revealed that Consuelos wears nasal strips while sleeping, which diminishes her interest in morning kissing and sex. On the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast in July, she stated, "I said to him, 'Here's the thing. There needs to be a yin and a yang here. It can't always be your way because it feels like 90 percent of the time it's your way.' And now that we work together every day, it's gonna have to sometimes be my way, and my way's at night only."
Family Ventures on Broadway
Beyond their personal anecdotes, the couple's family is making waves in the entertainment industry. Their youngest son, Joaquin, 23, is set to make his Broadway debut as the younger version of Biff in Death of a Salesman, running from April 9 to August 9 at the Winter Garden Theatre in Midtown Manhattan, with previews starting March 6. Joaquin, a recent graduate from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance, also competed on the wrestling team during his studies.
In a related theatrical note, Nathan Lane is finally taking on the iconic role of Willy Loman in a revival of Arthur Miller's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1949 drama, after a 30-year journey to the part.
Consuelos and Daughter Lola's Artistic Pursuits
Consuelos himself is preparing for his Broadway debut as Maurice Duclos opposite Rose Byrne in the Noël Coward comedy Fallen Angels, set in 1928. The show officially runs from April 19 to June 7 at the Todd Haimes Theatre, with previews having begun recently.
The couple's 24-year-old daughter, Lola, lives in London and released her debut EP, Sorry, It's All About Me, on December 4, following her graduation from NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2023.
Older Son Michael's Career and Family Milestones
Last year, Ripa and Consuelos' 28-year-old son, Michael, acted in their Audible Original podcast series Summer Breeze and worked as an associate producer on the Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of Potomac.
The inseparable presenters, who share a $27 million Upper East Side townhouse, are set to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary on May 1, marking a significant milestone in their long-lasting relationship.
How They Met and Eloped
Ripa and Consuelos first met at a gym in 1995 before portraying onscreen lovers Hayley and Mateo on the ABC soap opera All My Children. They famously eloped at the Chapel of the Bells in Las Vegas in 1996 after just one year of dating, and in 2024, they revisited the site for a nostalgic trip.
