TODAY alum Kathie Lee Gifford and her boyfriend, Richard Spitz, have appeared tense leaving an early morning workout, as the star’s family and friends disapprove of their relationship.
Kathie Lee, 70, has been dating her businessman boyfriend, Richard, 63, for over two years.
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The U.S. Sun has obtained exclusive photos of the couple heading to and leaving their early morning gym class in Franklin, Tennessee on December 9.
Richard was the first to leave their gated community, as he didn’t wait for his girlfriend and walked into the gym studio across the street without her by his side.
Kathie Lee exited her $3.7million brownstone and trailed behind Richard to the gym with her dog.
When the couple left the 30-minute gym class, they did not embrace or hold hands like they had done in the past.
Instead, they appeared tense during the walk back to their homes, which are in the same gated community.
At one point, Kathie Lee walked in front of Richard as he trailed behind her.
Kathie Lee wore a gray workout outfit, as she had on makeup and was even seen applying lipgloss on after the class.
Richard wore a navy blue long-sleeved shirt and dark gray pants.
BAD ROMANCE?
The tense exchange comes as Kathie Lee’s family and friends disapprove of the romance.
A source previously told The U.S. Sun that her daughter Cassidy, 30, and son Cody, 33, feel the relationship is “one-sided.”
The insider claimed: “They have a routine – she buys and delivers to him, lunch and dinner, they go to their favorite gym, which she pays for, and he will visit at night but will never stay over.
“Her children and close friends and family are heartbroken that she continues this toxic relationship with this man who they say treats her horribly.
“Cassidy and Cody do not approve of the relationship and want her to move on with her life so she can meet someone who will love and cherish her.”
SECRET ROMANCE
The U.S. Sun also previously reported that Richard wants to keep their relationship under wraps, as it has even been a source of contention between the couple.
An insider told The U.S. Sun: “Kathie Lee is secretly thrilled to finally have this relationship out in the open. Richard, on the other hand, is not happy at all.
“He has never allowed his picture to be taken, and is furious that his relationship with Kathie Lee is ‘out there’ now.”
The source continued Richard has “on a number of occasions, denied even being with Kathie Lee when asked in public in front of her.”
The source said in one example during the premiere of her film The Way in Nashville’s Franklin theater, Richard “waited until the film started and the lights went down until he went to sit in his seat next to Kathie Lee.
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“Before it was over and the lights went on, he got up and snuck out early.”
The insider, who was in the theatre and an eyewitness to the incident, claimed that Richard “wouldn’t go near her the entire night.”
The insider claimed the pair had a “big fight” over keeping their romance private.
The source added: “Kathie Lee wants the relationship to move forward, and he refuses to even acknowledge it publicly and for some reason, she has put up with it.”
‘NO EFFORT’
Kathie Lee’s friends are also displeased with the romance, as a source previously told The U.S. Sun: “The issue they have with Richard is that he seems disinterested in the relationship.
“Kathie Lee seems to give it her all, while he appears to give little to no effort.”
Despite some friends and family disapproving of the romance, the former Today star still wants to take the relationship to the next level.
The insider claimed: “She is in love with him. Privately, she wants nothing more than for the relationship to be public and for them to get married.”
Kathie Lee’s friends allegedly “wish she would move on and find someone who will love and cherish her.”
The source continued: “After two years, they believe this relationship is going nowhere and that she could do so much better!”
NEW LOVE
Kathie Lee broke the news of her romance in August 2022, as she told People: “I have someone very special in my life. I’ve discovered that by not talking about it, it stays special.”
Then in April of 2021, she opened up again about a mystery man on Today.
She said: “It’s just happy, and I don’t want to mess it up, and I probably already have by just even mentioning it.
“To be in a place where you feel like every aspect of your life is good, that nothing’s missing, that’s a beautiful place to be.
“I’m just so grateful. He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met, and he’s funny.”
Kathie Lee was married to NFL star Frank Gifford, who she shares her two children with, from 1986 until his death in 2015.
HOME SWEET HOME
Kathie Lee bought the Tennessee home in July 2019, while Richard purchased his nearby abode in 2020.
Her brownstone boasts six bedrooms and three bathrooms.
The Franklin, Tennessee home is just south of Nashville and features a basement, private elevator, two-car garage and private courtyard.
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