His replacement was none other than Mark Consuelos, co-host Kelly Ripa’s real-life husband.
The actor added, “Hayley and Mateo forever.”
Naturally, soap opera fans were dying over the reference.
Ripa was immediately smitten when she first met Consuelos
Kelly Ripa started playing Hayley Vaughan in 1990.
Just five years later, Mark Consuelos joined the cast as one of her love interests, Mateo Santos.
And yet, the couple began dating not long after meeting, and they eloped in Vegas in 1996.
Their characters got married, too, but not until 2000.
Both Hayley and Mateo left the soap in 2002 after Consuelos and Ripa had their second child together.
On the teen soap opera, Consuelos played the dastardly Hiram Lodge.
Ripa appeared in an episode as Hiram’s mistress, Mrs. Mulwray, while Hiram was in a coma.
