Kelly Ripa sparked buzz among fans — and visibly surprised her husband and co-host, Mark Consuelos — when she casually brought up the topic of divorce during a recent episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.

The 54-year-old television host introduced the conversation while discussing an article she had read about “gray divorce,” a term used to describe the growing number of couples over 50 choosing to separate after decades of marriage. The trend, Ripa explained, fascinated her because it revealed how relationships evolve with age — and how some people reach a point where they choose new beginnings rather than comfort.

“It’s becoming more common than people realize,” Ripa said, as the studio audience listened closely. “I read this incredible piece that made me really think about what drives people to start over later in life.”