Howie Mandel has extended an apology to Kelly Ripa following a tense moment during his guest appearance on “Live With Kelly and Mark” earlier this week.

The 70-year-old television host appeared on Monday’s episode alongside Ripa and her co-host, who is also her husband, Mark Consuelos.

During the show, the conversation turned to Mandel’s youthful appearance, with Ripa expressing disbelief at how well he’s aged, suggesting it “doesn’t make any sense.” Mandel responded sharply, indicating he wasn’t pleased with the way the compliment was given.

On Saturday, Mandel took to Instagram to clarify the situation, stating that his reaction was intended as a joke.

Standing by a picturesque sandy shore, Mandel shared with his followers, “I’ve been contemplating for 48 hours whether this post is necessary, and I’m still unsure if it’s the right decision.”

‘Philosophically, I don’t believe that somebody who’s a comedian needs to apologize for a joke. It is a joke, it is meant as a joke, and it’s not meant to offend.’ 

Howie Mandel, 70, has issued an apology to Kelly Ripa after he snapped at her during his appearance on Live With Kelly And Mark earlier this week

The media personality added that ‘you can not like it and, in all my years – 50 years in in the business – I haven’t ever publicly apologized for [a joke]’

The media personality added that ‘you can not like it and, in all my years – 50 years in in the business – I haven’t ever publicly apologized for [a joke].’ 

Mandel then admitted ‘this is hard for me’ before giving a message directly to Ripa. 

He expressed that she has been ‘incredibly supportive’ of him over the years and added, ‘Not only have I been a guest on her show, but I have cohosted with her and I have known her for years.’ 

The star said that when he ‘goes out there, I just try to be entertaining and funny.

‘And sometimes as a comedian, things don’t land the way you mean them to land. And… I don’t know how to say this…’ 

Following a brief pause, Mandel stated, ‘Not only do I want to say I’m sorry to Kelly but – and this is the hardest part – you’re right. You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it that way.

‘But after a lot of thought and self reflection, I… I look great for my age, I really do. I really… I look fantastic. And I just have to embrace the fact that I look this good,’ he said in conclusion. 

In the caption of his latest post, the comedian simply typed out: ‘Message to @kellyripa.’ 

Mandel jumped to his main Instagram page on Saturday to explain that the interaction was ‘meant as a joke’

Following a brief pause, Mandel stated, ‘Not only do I want to say I’m sorry to Kelly but – and this is the hardest part – you’re right. You’re absolutely right, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it that way’

Earlier this week on Monday, Mandel joined Ripa and Consuelos on Live With Kelly And Mark. 

His appearance came five months after the America’s Got Talent judge celebrated his 70th birthday last year in November. 

However, the couple then expressed their disbelief over his age – much to Mandel’s chagrin. 

‘It doesn’t make any sense,’ Ripa began, before Mandel interjected, asking: ‘What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense? That I look great?’

Ripa and Consuelos then scrambled to defuse the situation, as Mandel told them he didn’t like the way they phrased the compliment.

‘No. No. No,’ he told the couple. ‘I don’t like that because that’s a caveat. When you tell someone you’re 70, and they say you look great… ‘

Ripa chimed in again during the tense moment, assuring the actor that’s not what they meant.

‘We’re not saying you look great for 70 [years old],’ the TV host assured him. ‘We’re saying you look great and I don’t believe you’re 70.’

‘No. No. No,’ he told the couple. ‘I don’t like that because that’s a caveat. When you tell someone you’re 70, and they say you look great… ‘

‘We’re not saying you look great for 70 [years old],’ the TV host assured him. ‘We’re saying you look great and I don’t believe you’re 70’

However, Mandel refused to let the comment go, explaining to the pair why it offended him. 

‘No. No. It’s like saying you’re smart for a stupid person,’ he told them. ‘”Oh, you seem smart, you seem smart,” you see, no, I don’t look good.’

Thankfully, he then attempted to lighten the mood as he jokingly agreed he looks ‘gorgeous’ before sharing his workout routine with the hosts.

‘Your friend, [TV show host] Jerry O’Connell, got me into the most ridiculous workout I’ve ever done in my life,’ he shared.

‘I swim but have these cables which I tie onto my ankles and then I attach them to whatever is at the side of the pool,’ he continued.

‘Then he gave me these frying pan paddles and I swim for an hour and go nowhere,’ he exclaimed, adding he gets ‘so lost in it.’

Mandel said he takes them everywhere when traveling for work, joking that he’s scared a few kids in hotel pools.

‘You’re doing everything we’ve trained children not to do in a pool,’ Ripa joked.

Mandel has previously discussed aging and during an interview with Health Insight back in 2022, he opened up about his success and happiness before turning 70. 

‘You learn, and you get a perspective. What was important to me in my 30s is not important to me now.’

He added, ‘And you realize that things you chase don’t matter, and it’s just the ability to get up and even chase something. It’s about doing, just doing.’ 

The star expressed the importance of getting up and tackling your goals. 

‘Just get up and do it. We all have goals –  I want to be older, I want to be taller, I want to be richer, I want to be famous, and so on.’

Mandel continued, ‘And if you achieve any of these things you’re trying to achieve, they’re never the reason for your contentment or happiness.’

A vacation property near the iconic Yosemite National Park has become the focal point of a troubling investigation in California. Authorities have reportedly unearthed thousands of files containing suspected child sexual abuse content, alongside a disturbingly realistic child-like doll designed for sexual purposes.

Christian Parmalee Edwards, aged 44, was apprehended on March 19 following a search warrant carried out at a residence on Granite Butte Way in Oakhurst, located approximately 15 miles from Yosemite National Park, as reported by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.

It is alleged by investigators that the premises operated as a short-term rental, where unsuspecting guests might have been clandestinely filmed during private moments.

The search led detectives to uncover over 4,000 files believed to contain child sexual abuse material.

During the search, detectives said they discovered more than 4,000 files of suspected child sexual abuse material. 

“Detectives also found Mr. Edwards to be in possession of a lifelike child doll designed for sexual use,” a spokesperson for the Madera County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital. “The dolls hands were bound.”

Authorities also reported finding new children’s clothing.

“This showcases the escalation in behaviors from viewing digital images to filming to physical behaviors,” the spokesperson said.

Officials added that Edwards was watching a recently recorded video when detectives arrived to serve the warrant.

Detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Granite Butte Way in Oakhurst — roughly 15 miles south of Yosemite National Park. (Madera County Sheriff’s Office)

The investigation began after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which flagged suspected distribution of illegal material originating in Madera County. 

Detectives worked alongside the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force to carry out the search, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.

Edwards was booked into the Madera County Jail and faces multiple felony charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. 

Authorities say more charges — including invasion of privacy — could be added as the investigation progresses.

A view of a welcome sign in Yosemite National Park in California on Feb. 20, 2025.  (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Officials said electronic devices tied to Edwards have been collected and will undergo further forensic review.

A judge reduced Edwards’ bail from $225,000 to $75,000 during his initial court appearance, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.

“Protecting the innocent, upholding the law, and holding offenders accountable remains a top priority of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Tyson Pogue said in a statement. “We stand ready for when our community needs us most.”

SACRAMENTO – In the world of sports, there are moments that demand resilience and improvisation.

Just before the game was set to begin at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday, an unexpected hitch occurred when the national anthem singer’s microphone failed right at the start of the performance.

Unfazed by the technical glitch, the audience spontaneously filled the void, lifting their voices to complete the anthem. By the time the song concluded, a replacement microphone was found and harmony was restored.

This impromptu unity set the tone for what would unfold over the next two hours with the UCLA women’s basketball team.

Initially, the Bruins appeared disjointed and struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. But as the game progressed, they regrouped, driven by a collective desire to ensure that their journey didn’t end before reaching the Final Four—especially for their six seniors who have been pivotal to the team’s success.

There’s more basketball to play for top-seeded UCLA after it rallied for a 70-58 victory over third-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Surging ahead with a 15-2 run to end the third quarter and open the fourth, the Bruins shook off their early turnover problems to reach a second consecutive Final Four.

“Final Four!” jubliant fans chanted in the final minute. “Final Four!”

UCLA (35-1) will play either Texas or Michigan in a national semifinal on Friday at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix in the Bruins’ second consecutive appearance in the Final Four.

They’ll be seeking their first NCAA title after losing to UConn in a semifinal last year.

Center Lauren Betts overpowered the Blue Devils (27-9) with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. The Bruins also got a huge spark off the bench from Angela Dugalic, who tallied 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

The season goes on after UCLA mostly cleaned up its turnover issues and outscored Duke, 20-8, in the third quarter.

UCLA could finally forget about its early troubles late in the third quarter when Gianna Kneepkens rose for a straightaway 3-pointer that pushed the Bruins into a 47-45 lead. Kneepkens roared in celebration as the Bruins fans who packed most of the lower bowl of the arena howled in delight.

Dugalic followed with a turnaround jumper, layup and a putback in which she was fouled. By the time she made the resulting free throw, the Bruins were up 56-47 early in the fourth quarter and well on the way to their 29th consecutive victory.

It didn’t take long for UCLA to realize it was in for a far different challenge than it faced in November on the way to a 30-point blowout of the Blue Devils without Lauren and Sienna Betts.

Coming off a breathless buzzer-beater against LSU two days earlier, Duke was fearless in attacking the Bruins from the opening tip.

The Blue Devils built an early double-digit lead, largely on the strength of UCLA’s sloppiness.

After a first half in which her team struggled to run its offense, UCLA coach Cori Close huddled with point guards Kiki Rice and Charlisse Leger-Walker in front of the bench before heading to the locker room.

The Bruins piled up 12 turnovers – many unforced – in falling into a 39-31 halftime hole, and that was after five relatively clean minutes to close the half.

Midway through the second quarter, UCLA already had tallied 10 turnovers. Leger-Walker tried to find Angela Dugalic inside with a bounce pass that went out of bounds. Kneepkens stepped out of bounds. Lauren Betts committed an offensive foul. The Bruins couldn’t get a shot off on another possession, leading to a shot-clock violation.

The list went on.

Meanwhile, Duke executed at a much higher level while building a 10-point lead. The Blue Devils did a good job of denying Lauren Betts the ball or swarming her when she finally did get it. Betts had eight points on a meager five shots to go with only two rebounds at the game’s midpoint.

Things would soon get much better for Betts and her team.