Mark Consuelos stated he would prefer to remain in a "loveless marriage" with his wife, Kelly Ripa, than to risk losing their dog, Lena, in a divorce.
Consuelos made the declaration on their show, "Live with Kelly and Mark," while discussing a proposed bill in Pennsylvania that would alter how pets are viewed in divorce proceedings. The bill seeks to change pets from being considered property to family members.
"I would stay in a loveless marriage just to make sure I could be with Lena every day. That’s how much I love Lena," Consuelos said. He added that if he were to lose Lena in a divorce, he would "stay up at night, wondering what she is doing." Ripa responded sarcastically, "Is that all you’re asking for is a loveless marriage? Because that can be arranged."
The couple adopted Lena, a Maltese and Shih Tzu mix, in 2021 after she was featured on their show. Consuelos and Ripa, who have been married since 1996, also have three children. Ripa shared that her initial concern upon adopting Lena was how she would get along with their other dog, Chewie, a Shih Tzu who died last year at age 17. The two dogs reportedly bonded quickly.
In a separate segment, Dana Perino offered her perspective on marriage, emphasizing that happiness in a union is built on mutual trust rather than financial arrangements like prenuptial agreements. Perino advocates for a commitment-first approach for couples considering long-term commitments.