Explosive Backstage Drama at 'The View' Between Rosie O'Donnell and Barbara Walters Revealed

Rosie O’Donnell and Barbara Walters MediaPunch/Shutterstock; Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock

Rosie O'Donnell and Barbara Walters had a tumultuous relationship that extended beyond their time co-hosting The View. O'Donnell had met Walters through their shared publicist, Cindi Berger, and had even gone out to dinner and shows with her before joining the talk show. However, their relationship hit a rough patch when they had a disagreement regarding Donald Trump. After Trump published an open letter in the New York Post claiming that Walters had apologized to him for O'Donnell's behavior, the two women had a falling out.

In January 2007, the former president publicly accused Walters of comparing working with O'Donnell to "living in hell" in a message sent via fax to her office at The View. Despite the late TV journalist never addressing the supposed conversation prior to her death, O'Donnell, who cohosted the show with Walters on two separate occasions, recounted a heated argument between the two women on the show's soundstage. During the altercation, O'Donnell expressed her disappointment in Walters' lack of communication and questioned the authenticity of their friendship. The confrontation was reportedly so intense that bystanders were in shock.

O'Donnell expressed remorse for a comment she made about Walters' daughter, Jacqueline Guber, during a live show. Despite the tension at the time, O'Donnell has since apologized to Guber and they have moved past the incident.

Following Walters' passing in December 2022 at the age of 93, O'Donnell expressed her condolences and paid tribute to the broadcasting icon.

Barbara Walters' passing is a great loss. She led a remarkable life, filled with numerous accomplishments and pivotal moments. O'Donnell had the honor of being in her presence for a substantial amount of time and was able to witness her interviewing every prominent world leader and all the notable people. They shared a love for Broadway shows, and O'Donnell would always try to assist her backstage, but Walters never needed any help. O'Donnell was invited to commemorate Walters' life during a special episode of The View, but unfortunately, she was unable to attend due to prior commitments.