Rosie O’Donnell Reflects on Iconic Daytime Fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Rosie O’Donnell is looking back on her infamous fight with former “View” co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, which took place in 2007. The heated exchange, which occurred live on air, was sparked by a disagreement over American military activity in the Middle East. The argument became so intense that the show’s producers intervened, splitting the screen to show both women arguing simultaneously. This unprecedented move made headlines and became one of the show’s most talked-about moments.
Now, O’Donnell is alleging that the fight was staged by the show’s producer, Bill Geddie. In a recent interview on the “Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel” podcast, O’Donnell claimed that Geddie knew the fight was going to happen and had prepared the split-screen shot in advance. “It felt to me like I was on a basketball team of five women, and one of them kept tripping me on the way to the hoop,” O’Donnell said, describing her experience on the show.
A Look Back at the Fight
The fight between O’Donnell and Hasselbeck was a culmination of their differing views on politics. O’Donnell, who leans left, and Hasselbeck, who is right-leaning, had fundamentally different opinions on the war in the Middle East. Despite their differences, O’Donnell had considered Hasselbeck a friend and was shocked by her behavior on the show. “She came to my house, she was in my pool, she brought her little kid, I took her kid to ‘Sesame Street Live,’ I took her to her first Broadway opening,” O’Donnell recalled, noting that she had “bent over backwards” for Hasselbeck.
O’Donnell’s allegations about the staged fight have sparked a renewed interest in the incident. The former host has spoken out about her time on “The View” before, stating that she doesn’t regret her decision to leave the show. “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness,” O’Donnell said in a previous interview.
Aftermath and Reflection
Despite the drama surrounding her departure from “The View,” O’Donnell has maintained a good relationship with the show’s creator, Barbara Walters. “Barbara and I got along after, we went out to dinner, we knew each other way before I did that show, before she asked me to do it, and we remained friendly toward the end,” O’Donnell said. The comedian has also spoken about her experience on the show, noting that she learned a lot from her time on “The View” but wouldn’t want to repeat it.
Read more about Rosie O’Donnell’s reflections on her fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck Here
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