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By Alex Vena
Published March 24, 2026, 10:42 a.m. ET
Kelly Ripa sure knows how to gas up the Garden State.
The New Jersey native delivered what she described as “sort of a public service announcement” to Gen Z—otherwise known as those who were born between 1997 and 2012—on Tuesday’s previously recorded installment of Live with Kelly and Mark.
“They are running out of fuel in their cars because they are scared to fill up the tank,” she read. “To which I say, move to New Jersey, and you will never have to fill up your tank again.”
As Ripa reminded Mark Consuelos, you still “can’t pump your own gas” in New Jersey, which she praised as a “great state.”
“It’s the greatest. You just pull in, they do it for you,” she gushed, as the studio audience gave her a round of applause. “And don’t get me started on how superior our tomatoes and corn are. Don’t get me started. We are the blueberry capital of the world. But again, I digress.”
Consuelos asked Ripa why Gen Z was “scared” of pumping their own gas, to which Ripa replied, “A lot of reasons.”
“They’re afraid of identifying the nozzle and getting it in the hole,” she read with a laugh. “They’re afraid over the hygiene of the nozzle. They don’t like the lines involved queueing up. Two thirds of the respondents said they’ve asked a partner or family member to fill it up for them because they get so anxious with the idea.”
Photo: WABCWhile Consuelos added that “also not knowing exactly which side of the car” to put the nozzle in may be a deterrent, he and Ripa also pointed out that “there’s an arrow inside the car that tells you where the hole is.”
“So don’t be afraid, Gen Z,” Ripa said.
Consuelos exclaimed, “Get out and do it!”
Ripa quipped, “And if you are afraid, just drive to the state of New Jersey. They’ll do it for you.”
Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays. Check out their website for your local listings.
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