Ryan Seacrest Returns After On-Air Scare [VIDEO]

Ryan Seacrest is a consummate broadcast professional, so when his words seemed slurred and his right eye appeared to be half shut on the May17th season finale of “American Idol,” fans became immediately concerned. Many even speculated that he appeared to have suffered a stroke on live television.

The concern intensified on Monday, May 18th when Kelly Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos filled in for Ryan Seacrest on their morning TV show “Live with Kelly and Ryan.” But those worried about Ryan’s well-being saw he was okay when he returned to the show on Tuesday, May 19th.

Here’s the statement released to “People” by one of Ryan Seacrest’s reps:

“Ryan did not have any kind of stroke last night,” the rep tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. “Like many people right now, Ryan is adjusting to the new normal and finding work-home balance, with the added stress of having to put on live shows from home.”

“Between Live with Kelly and Ryan, American Idol, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and the Disney Family Singalong specials, he has been juggling three to four on-air jobs over the last few weeks and he’s in need of rest,” adds the rep. “So today he took a well-deserved day off.”

So happy to see the rumors about Ryan suffering from a stroke were not true.