Mark Consuelos Teases Kelly Ripa for ‘Handsy’ Moment at Work

Mark Consuelos playfully teased Kelly Ripa after his wife admitted to a “so inappropriate” moment they shared backstage before the taping of their daytime talk show on Thursday, July 25.

Ripa, 53, jumped into an explanation of what happened shortly after they sat down before their Live! with Kelly and Mark live audience and greeted the viewers at home.

“I’ve got to tell you something,” said Ripa, who has been married to Consuelos since 1995. “I did something backstage to Mark that was so inappropriate that, if we weren’t married, I would probably be fired right now.”

The incident began when Ripa complimented Consuelos, 53, on the black T-shirt he wore for the day’s show while they were backstage, waiting for filming to begin. He then invited her to “feel” his pants, which he described as being “really comfy.”

Related: Mark Consuelos Stuns Kelly Ripa With Family Update Suggestion on ‘Live’

Though Ripa agreed that the material was comfortable, she was quickly distracted by the muscular leg beneath the fabric.

“I was like, ‘My gosh. Your thighs feel like they are made out of, like, metal, or like a stone, or marble—like carved out of marble.’ And I’m backstage, and I’m rubbing up and down his thighs,” Ripa recalled, demonstrating the gesture again on her laughing husband before a live audience that was also chuckling over the anecdote.

Ripa said she then remembered suddenly that they were not alone. “Then I realize people are looking at us, like, ‘Are you OK? Do you forget that you’re in a place of business?’ And yes, is the answer,” she said.

Consuelos then jokingly threatened, “I may or may not file a grievance. A report.”

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t blame you,” Ripa told him. “It’s so inappropriate. But congratulations on your thighs.”

Her husband laughed again before admitting that she had gotten “a little handsy.”

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