Kelly Ripa Notices One Difference on ‘Live’ Since Mark Consuelos Joined: “A Ton of Men in the Audience”

Ever since Mark Consuelos replaced Ryan Seacrest as a co-host on Live, Kelly Ripa has noticed a drastic change in the show’s live audience.

Ripa had the revelation during this morning’s episode while discussing her and Consuelos’ weekend at Final X — or what she referred to as a “testosterone festival” — which determines what wrestlers will join the US Senior World Team and the Olympic Team.

“I will say — I don’t know if it’s the Consuelos effect on this show but since you’ve been here, there have been a ton of men in the audience,” Ripa pointed out, before joking, “This used to be a safe space for women. There was an entirely female audience and once in a while, a husband would sit very silently, afraid to move.”

Consuelos — who said it’s now a “bro show” — speculated that husbands who showed up before were likely “making up for something,” to which Ripa added, “He was in trouble. He was being punished.”

To prove her point, she further reflected on their experience at the wrestling tournament, where she thought no one would recognize them since it was a “guy event.”

“Literally, every man in that crowd came over to Mark and said, ‘Are you OK? Are you doing OK?’ Because they watch the show and they saw Mark get taken down,” she said, referring to the June 8 episode where Consuelos made a pathetic attempt to go up against college wrestling champion Mason Parris.

Following his wife’s story, the Riverdale alum proceeded to furrow his eyebrows and change to a more serious tone of voice as he rounded back to the topic of Live’s newest demographic.

“I want to say something — this is a safe place for women. But now, this is also a safe place for men. That’s how we should brand the show,” he said, while Ripa rolled her eyes and sarcastically quipped, “Yes, thank god there’s a safe place for men, finally!”

Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays at 9/8c on ABC.