It’s war. It’s also hurt feelings. And bruised egos. But mostly, what’s happening right now is another morning show TV mess being played out in front of loyal fans and viewers.

We’re talking about Kelly Ripa, the tiny, Soul Cycle-loving host of “Live! with Kelly and Michael,” and Michael Strahan, her big, ex-NFL-star co-host. ABC announced last week, out of the blue, that Strahan will be leaving “Live!” in September for “Good Morning America.” A ticked-off Ripa, who apparently found out the news at about the same time as the rest of the world, immediately left for Turks and Caicos with her husband, Marc Consuelos (part of her missed days were for the pre-planned 20th wedding anniversary trip). She is set to return to the show on Tuesday, and all eyes will be on her.

She has been called a “damsel in distress,” a “secret diva,” and “America’s sweetheart.” What will she say?

Ripa, 45, has a right to be mad — which she subtly showed off by clutching a copy of “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants” as she got into her waiting car to speed off for her getaway last week.

She has worked with Strahan, 42, to grow the “Live!” ratings with their amiable host chatter and chemistry in the five years since Regis Philbin left. Ripa has been on for 15 years, since she took over when Kathie Lee Gifford exited. In January, the show was renewed through the 2019-2020 season, and, according to Deadline, “Live!” is having its best season in seven years, averaging nearly 4 million viewers — up 13 percent from the same time last season.

Meanwhile, numbers for “GMA” are down 10 percent in total viewers and 18 percent in the coveted 25-to-54-year-old demographic. It is second in that age bracket to NBC’s “Today.”

Strahan began appearing on “GMA” two years ago. Ripa, according to some reports, had reservations about the deal, since he would also still do his work for Fox NFL Sunday during football season. She was told it would be temporary.

But before we cry any more for these two, let’s take a step back from the Ripa-Strahan sniping and assess. It’s starting to feel like a plot right out of “All My Children,” which is where Ripa got her start in show biz.

Last week, when it all exploded, there was Strahan looking into the cameras on “GMA” as the team welcomed him and seemingly saying directly to Ripa, “We’re on the same team, same family, same network.”

Then came a report from the Daily Mail that “GMA” pop culture anchor Lara Spencer was feeling marginalized by the Strahan move. (She denied it.)

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Now, the wronged Ripa is in the catbird seat, just as Ann Curry was when she was shown the door at the “Today” show in 2012. Sympathy was suddenly very much on her side.

What’s likely to happen next in the “Live” saga? Ripa will be regal. Strahan will be solicitous. The show will go on. Or not.

But do we really need to feel sorry for anyone involved? The two have one of the greatest work schedules on the planet. They chat about what they did last night and get paid handsomely for it. Strahan’s net worth is said to be right around $55 million. And Ripa’s? CelebrityNetWorth.com puts it at $100 million. Pretty hard to feel sorry for anyone.