Five months after announcing he was leaving "Live with Kelly" and has settled into his new role at Good Morning America, Michael Strahan is speaking about the gossip surrounding his exit.
In a new interview with People, Strahan said he handled the situation as best he could.
Strahan said he could have let the bosses who made the decision for him to leave to inform Ripa, but he decided to tell her himself.
"I felt it was my obligation after four years and as an honorable person to be the one to deliver that news."
When Strahan told co-host Kelly Ripa the news, he said he was not surprised by her reaction. "I had been there four years," Strahan told People. "I've been there long enough to understand how she reacts to things."
"I think it was a big surprise to the public. The only thing that surprised me about the outcome of that was the stance that was taken after the announcement was made -- That I was a selfish person -- That I was leaving, and I was running away and I was abandoning someone, which just wasn't the case."
As far as his relationship with Ripa now, Strahan seems uncertain.
"I don't know what (our relationship) is, to be honest with you. I wish her well, though, I really do," he said. "She's very talented at what she does, and I hope she continues to do it."
"The most disappointing thing to me was that I was painted as the bad guy, because I value the way I carry myself," Strahan told People. "I don't want people to see me as 'Oh, he just ran out, just left them there.' That's just not true."
Watch the interview below:
