Along with playing professional football and hosting talk shows, Michael Strahan is recognizable for a defining physical feature: the gap between his front teeth. He's talked about the pride he has in his gap. He smiles with it confidently. He's shared the story of growing more comfortable with it. So it may surprise you to learn that Michael Strahan has closed the gap in his teeth.
Well, supposedly. In a video posted on his Instagram account, Strahan is at a dental clinic getting the procedure done. And at the end, he reveals his new look. The only thing is, this announcement comes on the day before April Fools'. Could Strahan be tricking us all?
Read on to see Strahan's new smile and to read what he's said about loving his gap in the past. And for another celebrity transformation, check out Ricky Martin Just Revealed a Shocking New Look.
He shared both parts of the procedure.
Michael Strahan/InstagramAt the beginning of his Instagram video, Strahan speaks to his dentist. He says that he knows his friends, business partner, and even fans online would tell him, "Don't do it!" But, he adds, "I gotta do what I want to do for myself." Strahan then has a mold of his mouth taken.
The video then jumps to his second visit. "Here’s the moment 50 years in the making," Strahan says. His new front teeth are fitted. Revealing the look, Strahan says, "I love it!" and flashes a big smile.
Strahan turns 50 this year. For more celebs who are hitting that milestone, check out 50 Celebrities Who Are Turning 50 This Year.
The look may not be permanent.
Michael Strahan/InstagramStrahan doesn't name the procedure he supposedly had done in the video. His Instagram post is captioned "I did it" with the hashtag "#GoodbyeGap" and the name of the dental office. There is a longer version of the video on the Smile Design Manhattan account in which the doctor refers to Strahan getting "veneers."
Entertainment Tonight reports that Strahan received "a temporary removable dental piece," which could be evidence that this is part of an April Fools' joke. Just Jared also reported that he received a temporary piece so that he could see what he looks like without the gap.
See some more celebrities evolving over time in 12 Beloved, Long-Term Celebrity Couples, Then and Now.
Strahan talked about loving his gap very recently.
Michael Strahan/InstagramIn an Instagram post on Mar. 23, Strahan posted a series of photos of celebrities and his TV co-hosts edited to make it look like they have gaps. "I rock my gap with pride!" he wrote in the caption. "It's who I am! Which of my friends do you think can rock it with me???"
In the past, he has said that he wouldn't change it. In a 2012 interview with Elle, the host said that he came close to closing it in his twenties, but decided against it. "For me, I made the conscious effort to say 'This is who I am,'" he said. "I'm not perfect. I don't want to try to be perfect. At this point, I don't think my kids would recognize me without it. They'd be like, 'Who is this stranger in the house? Call 911!'"
The Good Morning America anchor also made headlines in 2018 when he supported young This Is Us star Lonnie Chavis, who said he was bullied about his own gap. "You make me proud to rock my gap and your message is exactly on point," Strahan wrote to Chavis in an Instagram post. "Embrace your uniqueness and live your life with happiness! What people criticized me for earlier they now embrace as a signature."
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Not everyone is convinced that his new smile is permanent.
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.comThe comments on Strahan's Instagram post show that while people think he looks great either way, a lot of fans and friends believe this to be an elaborate prank. Former NFL player Troy Aikman wrote, "Good for you!" Model Heidi Klum wrote, "Oh no" with a shocked emoji. Skier Lindsey Vonn posted, "No you did not!!" Wrestler and reality star Nikki Bella, commented, "Smile is still a million bucks!" Former NFL player Justin Tuck simply pointed out, "April fools is tmrw."
UPDATE: On April 1, Strahan proved all the doubters correct, revealing on Instagram that he didn't close his gap and that it's "not going anywhere." Watch the full video on his Instagram.
For some April Fools' jokes you may be able to pull off in your own life, check out The 48 Best Harmless April Fools' Pranks to Pull This Year.
