Howie Mandel regrets apologising to Kelly Ripa for on-air clash

Howie Mandel has expressed regret over apologising to Kelly Ripa after their uncomfortable on-camera moment last week.

“I’m not a believer in saying sorry, but I mentioned it in that post, which I somewhat regret creating. Clearly, I told a joke that didn’t resonate,” Mandel recalled about the incident, which happened after Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos commented on his look.

“Comedians often say, ‘If you can get one person to giggle, you’re on the right track, but it seems that just one isn’t enough. It’s just not enough,” he explained during a chat on Tuesday’s “Hot Mics with Billy Bush.”

He mentioned, “So you found my joke amusing. I’m reading, and it keeps going, and I don’t get it, and I attempted to stop it. I tried saying sorry. I agreed with everyone. I truly did.”

Mandel shared that he’s unsure “what’s happening” or “when it will conclude,” referring to the backlash after the tense moment.

“And I wish it wraps up quickly because I didn’t intend to stir any trouble. I didn’t mean to offend anyone,” he stated.

In Wednesday’s broadcast of Carrie Berk’s “Fire Chats: The Mindfire Pod,” Mandel confessed he’s unsure “how [the apology was] taken,” adding “it doesn’t really matter.”

Representatives for Ripa and Consuelos did not respond immediately to Page Six's requests for comments on Wednesday night.

The issue began after Mandel seemingly reacted negatively on last Monday’s “Live with Kelly and Mark,” when the couple celebrated the “America’s Got Talent” judge’s 70th birthday milestone.

The couple praised the actor’s look, prompting him to respond, “That doesn’t mean anything to me.” The veteran talk show host, 55, reassured the comedian that they weren’t “implying you look great for 70.”

“We’re saying you look fantastic, and I can’t believe you’re 70,” Ripa explained further.

Mandel replied, “No, no — it’s like when someone says you’re smart for a dumb person. ‘Oh, you seem bright, you seem bright,’ you see, no, I don’t look good,” as the crowd exploded with laughter.

Consuelos, 55, remarked that Mandel does indeed “look fine,” with Mandel playfully agreeing that he’s “quite attractive.”

In an Instagram video on Sunday, Mandel insisted that comedians shouldn't need to apologize for their humour — but he made an exception for Ripa.

“It was a humorous comment. It’s meant to be funny, and it’s not to insult,” he commented in the seaside video, mentioning it’s been “difficult” since he’s never apologised in his five decades in comedy.

“But this is for Kelly Ripa, who has been incredibly kind in the past,” he pointed out. “Not only have I been her guest, but I’ve co-hosted and known her for years.”

He also noted his humor isn’t always well-received. “When I perform, my goal is to entertain and amuse, and sometimes, as a comic, things don’t hit as intended,” he shared.

“Not only do I want to extend an apology to Kelly — and this is the toughest part — you’re correct,” he continued. “You’re absolutely correct, and I apologize for not seeing it that way.”

Mandel ended the video by humorously noting, “And after much consideration and reflection, I must say I look amazing for my age. I truly do. I look incredible and need to accept it.”