Ripa Defends Thanksgiving Side Dish Debate on Air

Kelly Ripa recently ignited a debate over the correct name for a popular Thanksgiving side dish, "stuffing" vs. "dressing." This controversy began after Ripa mentioned a news article discussing the difference between the two terms during an episode of Live With Kelly and Mark. The simple mention led to strong reactions, with many viewers passionately weighing in on which term was the "right" one.

The next day, Ripa addressed the backlash, explaining that she had not written the article but had simply read it. She humorously told her audience, "Don't shoot the messenger," but still acknowledged that the discussion about stuffing and dressing had become more intense than any political debate.

Ripa also revealed that many of her viewers had sent in feedback, some of which were critical of her stance. She refused to read the harsh comments on social media, instead advising critics to "get a life" and suggesting that if they were focusing on this issue, they likely didn’t have more important problems to worry about.

On the show, Ripa and her co-host husband, Mark Consuelos, discussed the regional differences in how the two terms are used. Ripa explained that "dressing" is the term commonly used in the South, while "stuffing" refers to the version cooked inside the turkey. Consuelos added that if the dish is cooked separately, it’s called dressing.

To add some fun to the debate, they invited Scarlett Johansson, who was a guest on the show, to share her thoughts. Johansson asked if dressing referred to the stuffing cooked outside the turkey, which Consuelos confirmed. He also jokingly pointed out that they had already discussed this the previous day but had received backlash for it.

Despite the playful nature of the conversation, the stuffing vs. dressing debate continued to spark heated opinions. Ripa wrapped up the segment by reminding viewers that, according to some online commentators, people seemed to be spending too much time arguing over this trivial issue. The show airs weekdays in syndication, and viewers can check their local listings for times.