Giuliana Rancic has publicly addressed her ex-boyfriend Jerry O'Connell's recent remarks about their past relationship and breakup.
O'Connell, 52, discussed their 2004 split on a recent episode of the podcast "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa." Days later, Rancic, 51, posted an Instagram video that appeared to be a subtle response to his comments.
"Have you guys heard? Apparently my ex-boyfriend has been talking about our breakup publicly after 22 years. Hmm," Rancic said in the video, taken while she was on a boat. She then took a sip of a drink and added, "And it seems that his memory is just a little fuzzy."
Rancic, who was on vacation, noted that her email had been busy since O'Connell's podcast appearance. She stated that while she could offer a brief comment and wish him well, she had decided to "just take a deep dive and make [the drama] a 40-minute podcast." She humorously invited O'Connell to join her for this hypothetical episode.
Rancic and O'Connell dated between 2003 and 2004. The specifics of their breakup were previously detailed by Rancic in her 2015 memoir, "Going Off Script." According to her account, O'Connell ended their relationship via an intercom system, telling her, "Nope, sorry, homegirl. Things change, but you take care, OK?"
During the podcast, Ripa read this passage to O'Connell. He did not deny the statement and admitted to being a "terrible boyfriend" to Rancic at the time. He recalled that another woman was inside his condominium when Rancic requested entry, and he did not want a confrontation. O'Connell did not specify who the other woman was or whether he and Rancic had been exclusive, stating their romance was already "in trouble."
O'Connell also shared anecdotes about "awkward" encounters with Rancic at the gym after their breakup, describing how he would approach her "nose-to-nose" and speak in a "weird" voice that he acknowledged annoyed her.
O'Connell went on to date Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell before marrying model Rebecca Romijn.