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Michael Strahan Has To Give Up All Lucrative Endorsements With New ‘GMA’ Gig

By Georgia Makitalo
Published on: 11:25 PST, Jul 5, 2016

Michael Strahan has not only left Live! With Kelly and Michael for Good Morning America, but Strahan is also leaving his numerous lucrative endorsements. We hope this was worth it!

The New York Post‘s Page Six has just confirmed that they spoke with an ABC News spokesperson who explained that the company has a clause banning any endorsements whatsoever. This means that Strahan’s new full-time GMA gig requires that his cornucopia of product endorsement must end. Currently, Strahan pitches for Snickers, Dr. Pepper, Subway, Pizza Hut, Right Guard, and Metamucil. An ABC rep explained that Strahan’s previous endorsement contracts will be ending “in the next few months.” To fulfill the ABC requirements, Strahan will not be renewing any of these contracts.

There is absolutely no exception to this rule, yet the former football standout can at least continue his clothing line with J.C. Penney.

“Michael’s endorsements are set to expire in the next few months and won’t be renewed. His clothing line [with J.C. Penney] will continue, and he’s held to the same disclosure standard as anyone else at ABC News.”

Strahan shocked the television world when it was announced that he would be leaving Live! with Kelly and Michael, the show he co-hosted with longtime Live! host Kelly Ripa. Strahan’s employment on Live! was not affected by the strict ABC News rules that bind all GMA employees from endorsing any products. As these are strictly news programs, they want to avoid any sort of conflict of interest.

Strahan shocked the TV world earlier this year when he surprised the Live! viewers that he was headed for a full-time role at Good Morning America. His co-host, Kelly Ripa, was in the dark about these happenings and was told just moments before the shocking announcement.

Ripa famously took some time off for several days after the April 19 announcement, as she felt “blindsided” by the Strahan departure. She was very public with her feeling of “disrespect” over the entire situation. There were producers, as well as Strahan, that were aware of the departure and Ripa was not given any sort of heads-up.

There was originally reports that Kelly Ripa would leave Live! unless one of her pals Andy Cohen or Anderson Cooper was hired to be her co-host. An insider at Live! stated to People that Ripa’s choices were her trusted friends because she had such great chemistry and trust with each of her pals.

“Expect to see people like Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Josh Groban and Seth Meyers. They all came on a lot last time and she loved them. She is really close with Anderson and Andy and she loves them. But she’s open to trying a bunch of different people. It was clear she really liked the process last time.”

Currently, there are rumors that each of these names are on the short list for Strahan’s replacement. In addition, such names as Rob Lowe and Fred Savage are possibilities, as well as former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. Currently, there is a carousel of guest co-hosts working with Kelly as she determines who she wants to work alongside each morning. There is a great deal of anticipation that the announcement will be made soon, before summer break begins at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Strahan has been hosting the $100,000 Pyramid, having left Live! four months earlier than he originally planned. He recently told Chelsea Handler that he does not miss doing Live! With Kelly and Michael. Michael Strahan is enjoying this break to spend time with his children and to relax before the real work begins this fall on Good Morning America.

Do you think Michael Strahan made a mistake to give up all of these lucrative endorsements to go on GMA? Who do you think will be the new Live! cohost?

[Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images]

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