‘Bachelor’ Alum Puts Kelly Ripa On Blast For “Awkward” Jenn Tran Interview On ‘Live’: “It Disappoints Me”

Former Bachelor contestant Ashley Iaconetti is speaking out against Kelly Ripa for her uncomfortable interaction with current Bachelorette lead Jenn Tran.

Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos interviewed Tran on the July 8 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, where they questioned the aspiring physician’s assistant about her decision to look for love on TV instead of in the office or medical school.

“It disappoints me when I see Kelly Ripa constantly criticize The Bachelor franchise,” Iaconetti expressed on her Almost Famous podcast, as reported by Us Weekly. “Every time a lead goes on the show to promote it, she appears skeptical of the lead and their choice to be on the show, as well as the entire process.”

Iaconetti, who was part of Season 19 of The Bachelor, added that Ripa seems to shame the show and singles it out despite there being more controversial reality shows out there.

Season 20 Bachelor lead (and Iaconetti’s podcast co-host) Ben Higgins shared a similar experience when he appeared on the talk show in 2016. According to Higgins, Ripa “definitely doesn’t like” The Bachelor franchise.

“I don’t know if they denied her a Bachelorette role at some point,” he joked, suggesting that her apparent dislike creates an awkward interview atmosphere.

Tran, Ripa, and Consuelos were praised for their responses to the uncomfortable moment. Tran cleverly pointed out to Ripa that she met her husband on TV as well, but Ripa insisted their situations were different.

“We were both professionals,” Ripa responded. “Are you acting on your show? I didn’t marry Mateo Santos. I married Mark Consuelos.”

Despite the tension, both hosts commended Tran for handling Ripa’s questions well.

DECIDER has reached out to Ripa’s representatives for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.