Ethermac Exchange-Kelly Ripa Recalls Past Marriage Challenges With “Insanely Jealous” Husband Mark Consuelos

Things weren't always so rosy between Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.

The Live With Kelly and Ethermac ExchangeRyan star shared a glimpse into the beginning of her marriage to Mark, 51, calling her husband of 27 years "insanely jealous."

"My biggest complaint about you over the course of our marriage—and this is not recent because it definitely changed—but you used to be insanely jealous and that was a hard pill to swallow," Kelly, 52, explained in a teaser for the premiere episode of her SiriusXM podcast Let's Talk Off Camera, per Entertainment Tonight. "It's very hard being married to somebody who is jealous."

The Hope & Faith star shared that Mark had what she called a "perception of a scenario."

"It was our first week of marriage, because we didn't take our honeymoon until later," Kelly recalled. "You were working and I went to visit you in Boston. We went to this Italian restaurant and the waiter was like a very cute old man, he's definitely in his 70s, if not 80s. He leaned down and he said, 'And for the principessa?'"

Mark jumped in, reflecting on what he calls a "character flaw." 

"I remember that," he confessed. "Look, at age 25, I was pretty insane. But that jealousy thing definitely followed me for a while. I'm not jealous anymore."

Kelly quipped that she is "so grateful that you're not."

"It's ugly," Mark continued. "As ugly as it feels to the person who has to be on the receiving end of it, it's such an ugly feeling inside. If this is any consolation, you know you're being crazy. The jealous person knows that this is wrong and it's ugly, but they can't help it."

However, the couple—who tied the knot in 1996—overcame the roadblock after Mark put in the work.

"I wanted to do some work on myself," he added, "and that was one of the major things that I needed to work on because it was getting in the way." 

The pair—who originally met on the soap opera All My Children went on to welcome three kids: Michael, 25, Lola, 21, and Joaquin, 20.

As for the next chapter of Kelly and Mark's lives? Well, the two are going to be seeing a lot more of one another on-air, as the Riverdale alum is replacing Kelly's co-host Ryan Seacrest on Live With Kelly and Ryan next month.

Mark shared his gratitude for the chance to once again work with his wife.

"I am so excited," Mark shared with ABC during the 2023 Oscars red carpet. "I start the show on April 17th, which is a Monday. I couldn't be more honored and excited."