Ex-‘Bachelor’ contestant calls out Kelly Ripa for ‘offensive’ Jenn Tran interview
Former “Bachelor” contestant Ashley Iaconetti slammed Kelly Ripa for her “offensive” interview with “Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran.
On Wednesday, the Bachelor Nation alum spoke out about Tran’s recent appearance on “Live With Kelly and Mark,” claiming the talk show host harshly drilled the Season 21 lead for choosing not to find a husband in an “office” or at “medical school.”
“It disappoints me when I see that Kelly Ripa has such an ax to grind with ‘The Bachelor’ franchise,” Iaconetti said on the “Almost Famous” podcast.
“Every time we have a lead go on the show to promote it, she always seems to be so skeptical of — a little bit of the lead, and their decision to be the lead — and also just the process,” she continued.
Iaconetti, 36, alleged Ripa “just seems to really shame the show.”
“She loves to pick at ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette,'” the mom of one said, adding there are “so many reality shows out there that are so much more trashy.”
Iaconetti explained that her co-host and Season 20 “Bachelor” lead Ben Higgins also had a similar experience with Ripa when he appeared on “Live With Kelly and Michael” in 2016.
Higgins, 35, quipped the talk show host “definitely doesn’t like the show,” which “makes for an awkward interview.”
“I don’t know if they denied her the ‘Bachelorette’ role at some point,” he joked.
Higgins said Ripa was “still very nice” but interviews with Bachelor Nation leads tend to be “awkward” because they aren’t allowed to answer specific questions.
Reps for Ripa weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
On Monday, Tran appeared on “Live” with Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, as the two questioned why the physician assistant student wanted to be on the show.
“You’re drop-dead gorgeous,” Ripa said. “You could meet anybody anywhere, at any time. Why why why [the show].”
Ripa asked why Tran didn’t choose to meet someone at “medical school” or “the office,” as Consuelos chimed in and said she could’ve met someone at “church.”
“I have a question. Where did you meet your husband? On TV, no?” Tran responded, referring to when the couple met on “All My Children” in the ’90s.
“Those are not the same. We were both professional,” Ripa said. “Are you acting on your show? I didn’t marry [Mark’s character] Mateo Santos. I married Mark Consuelos.”
Despite the onscreen tension, an insider told Entertainment Weekly that Ripa and Tran engaged in friendly banter, and their conversation was well received.
Tran starred on Season 28 of “The Bachelor” with Joey Graziadei, who ultimately got engaged to Kelsey Anderson.
New episodes of “The Bachelorette” air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
