Elisabeth Hasselbeck and 6 Other Co-Hosts Of 'The View' That Were Fired Or Left [PHOTOS]
Throughout 17 years on air for “The View,” co-hosts of the ABC daytime talk show have come and gone. The live show is about to lose another one of its members this week, longtime regular Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Amid rumors that the 36-year-old author and former “Survivor” star was fired from the program for being too "right wing", the network released a statement Tuesday confirming Wednesday will be Hasselbeck’s last day of her decade-long run on the show.
“We watched her journey from newlywed to motherhood, an Emmy® Award-winning talk show host, author, entrepreneur and activist,” said ABC. “She stood behind her political views even if they were not the most popular opinions at the table, never shying away from voicing a difficult question. We thank Elisabeth and wish her luck as she begins this new chapter of her career.”
While Hasselbeck’s dismissal from the program is creating buzz, she is only the latest of many co-hosts who found themselves off the program. Here are six other hosts who were fired or voluntarily left “The View”:
1. Joy Behar. She hasn’t left “The View” yet, but the comedian already has one foot out the door. Unlike her co-star, Behar isn’t rumored to have been fired from the show after a 17-year run, but left in order to pursue other ventures. Following the announcement in March that this will be her last season on the program, ABC called the longtime host “instrumental” to the show’s success.
2. Lisa Ling. After the now 39-year-old journalist left the show at age 26, she recently revealed on “Larry King Now” that her desire to get back into the news business solidified her decision to leave the show. “For someone my age, I knew that if I didn’t try and get back into the field, I might not have another opportunity to have it later on,” said Ling, who also admitted the opinionated hosts intimidated her. “As a young person on 'The View,' it was sometimes hard to get a word in edgewise … as a young Asian girl I was always told to be respectful of my elders.”
3. Rosie O’Donnell. In arguably the most dramatic split from the program, the comedian and actress parted ways from her co-hosting gig after a series of dramatic, on-air arguments in 2007. ABC later announced the decision to relieve the entertainer from her position two days after one highly publicized political disagreement with Hasselbeck. ABC released a statement regarding the incident saying they “wished her well” and confirmed that O'Donnell left on her own accord.
4. Meredith Vieira. One of the original hosts of “The View,” the broadcast journalist had a surprisingly upbeat departure in 2006 after she was hired by NBC to co-host the “Today” show. Her last day on the program was celebrated in a big way with guests including actor Kelsey Grammer and comedian Joan Rivers. The program also included kind words from the show’s co-creator, Barbara Walters. “"They said I should only say nice things about you, so I'm going to be very brief,” joked Walters.
5. Star Jones. Jones first announced her departure from “The View” in 2006 only to follow with a shocking claim two days later that she had been fired by producers. Walters later commented on the news saying she felt “betrayed” by Jones and that she would never confirm if the contract was not renewed. When discussing the process Jones stated, “Boom. Boom. Boxer Roy Jones Jr. wished he hit that hard.”
6. Barbara Walters. The matriarch, co-creator and executive producer of “The View" announced her decision to leave the program in 2013. The 83-year-old journalist stepped down from her role as co-host in May saying, “I created ‘The View’ and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it. I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on ‘The View' and with ABC News.”
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