Actor Jerry O'Connell shared on the "Let's Talk Off Camera" podcast with Kelly Ripa that he used to intentionally provoke his ex-girlfriend, Giuliana Rancic, during their encounters at the gym. O'Connell described his tactic as walking up to Rancic "nose to nose" and engaging in an over-the-top flirtatious manner.
"Everybody should do this with exes. It's really funny," O'Connell said on the podcast, explaining his approach to navigating awkward run-ins with former partners. He admitted that the more Rancic expressed annoyance, the more he would lean into the act, playfully saying things like, "I miss you. Do you have the same number?"
O'Connell and Rancic dated between 2003 and 2004. Their past relationship resurfaced in Rancic's 2015 memoir, "Going Off Script," in which she claimed O'Connell ended their relationship by breaking up with her over an intercom. Rancic's account stated that O'Connell said, "Nope, sorry, homegirl. Things change, but you take care, OK?"
During the podcast, O'Connell stated that he does not recall the exact wording he used during their 2004 split. "I can't deny that I said that," he confessed, adding, "It doesn't sound like something I would say, but again, if I was writing a memoir, it made for a good quote."
O'Connell also reflected on his past behavior in the relationship, calling himself a "terrible boyfriend" to Rancic. He recounted an instance where Rancic sought entry into his condominium unannounced while another woman was present, and he denied her access, citing security measures and a lack of prior notification.