Kelly Ripa tears up while explaining why she isn't talking to two of her children

Kelly Ripa has revealed that she is not speaking to two of her children because they refuse to hug her amid the coronavirus pandemic.

During Wednesday’s episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan, which the hosts are filming from their homes, Ripa got choked up while discussing the ways families can watch TV together while social distancing, as well as the impact the safety measures are having on her own family.

“Look, I'm not going to lie, OK? I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm currently not speaking to two of my three kids right now,” the host said while tearing up, according to E News. “I'm not talking to two of them because … just because, we're all in the same boat together, right? Like, I haven't gotten to hug my parents … I want to hug my parents. I miss hugging my parents.

"And my kids, like, won't hug me. And I'm like: 'Guys we've all been in lockdown together. We're fine. You can give me a hug. It's fine.’"

The 49-year-old talk-show host then apologised for getting emotional on-air, explaining to Seacrest that she didn’t know why she was crying.

“Anyway, I'm sorry,” Ripa told her fellow host. “I don't know why I'm crying. Maybe I'm just going to get my period, who knows? Sorry … Sorry, did I shout that? Did my inner monologue come out? Sorry, I didn't mean to do that."

The moment of transparency prompted many viewers to sympathise with Ripa.

“Thanks for sharing about your family. My son isn’t a hugger,” one person tweeted. “They just don’t understand how much weight is on our shoulders. This is a crisis and we’re doing our best to minimise the stress to our family. Thanks for what you do to keep us laughing.”

Another said: "Loved seeing your vulnerability Kelly Ripa. I feel the same way and it really hit home. I miss my friends and family so much but what your doing helps me get through the day! Sending love!"

However, others criticised the host for perpetuating stereotypes about women being emotional on their periods.

One viewer said: “Did @KellyRipa just blame crying on her period, @LiveKellyRyan?! Women! Stop perpetuating the male stereotype of periods! You are allowed to cry whenever the f*** you want you don’t have to use your period as an excuse! This is a traumatic time, everybody should be crying!”

During the episode, Ripa also expressed the sympathy she feels for her oldest son, Michael, whose graduation from New York University was postponed because of coronavirus.

“I feel so bad for my son Michael, who was supposed to graduate in a couple of weeks,” she said, before acknowledging that these are “small problems considering that so many people are losing their loved ones and [are] very, very sick”.

Earlier this week, the host, who shares children Michael, 22, Lola, 18, and Joaquin, 17, with husband Mark Consuelos, said the family had been entertaining themselves with game nights to pass the time.