Rosie O’Donnell is quitting ‘The View,’ but everyone’s pretending that everything’s OK

When news blew up over the weekend that Rosie O’Donnell planned to quit “The View” — yes, again — it was reasonable to assume that the panelists, never ones to shy from “hot topics,” would, you know, at least mention it on Monday’s episode.

But O’Donnell showed up for work as usual, along with the rest of the panel: Moderator Whoopi Goldberg, along with Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace.

No one said a word about it.

“So,” Whoopi Goldberg laughed at the top of the show. This opener drew a sustained, knowing cheer from the audience, sensing she was about to cue up something big.

Instead, Whoopi was all business. “Hello. Welcome to ‘The View,’” Whoopi said in a stilted tone. She turned to O’Donnell. “You had a big weekend this weekend, Rosie, tell everybody about it.”

“Yeah,” O’Donnell said, then offered this: “I had a documentary premiere at the Athena Film Festival.”

Um, OK? O’Donnell spent the next few minutes plugging her stand-up comedy documentary, which premieres on HBO this Saturday. And that was all we learned about O’Donnell. (An ABC rep confirmed that this is indeed her last week on the show.)

Strangely, she was much more open in the press about her reasons for leaving. She told People magazine that she was leaving because her doctor worried about the stress load attached to her job on “The View,” especially because O’Donnell had a heart attack in 2012. O’Donnell’s rep confirmed to Page Six that O’Donnell recently split with her wife, and that she wants to be home for her five kids.

“She is putting her personal health and family first,” said O’Donnell’s rep. “ABC has been wonderfully understanding and supportive of her personal decision to leave ‘The View.’”

As some may remember, this is the second time that an O’Donnell stint on the “The View” has led to disaster. In 2007, she abruptly quit after a fiery on-air argument with Elisabeth Hasselbeck about the Iraq War. (This was after multiple on-air controversies, including one famous battle with Donald Trump.)

An extensive report in Variety says that after she returned, a more subdued O’Donnell again clashed with executives, who wanted her to bring the ratings — and were unhappy when she could not.

Meanwhile, it could well be a sinking ship that O’Donnell is leaping from anyway. It’s no secret that “The View” ratings have been dropping this season – things haven’t been the same since creator Barbara Walters left last spring. ABC’s news division took over the program last year, but even reports of vicious squabbling (once a ratings driver!) may not be enough to save the show.

Emily Yahr, The Washington Post

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.