Barbara Walters Stands By Rosie
Denies She Told Donald Trump She Wanted O'Donnell Off The Show
37NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2007 | by Amy Bonawitz
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(CBS/AP) Barbara Walters is back from vacation with two denials — one about Rosie O'Donnell and one about Donald Trump.
Walters told her audience on "The View" that she never told Trump she didn't want O'Donnell on the show, as he has said she did. She says "nothing could be further from the truth."
O'Donnell is on vacation this week and Walters says she'll welcome her back "with open arms."
Walters also says ABC asked her to read a statement denying that Trump had ever filed for "personal bankruptcy," but that "several of his casino companies have filed for business bankruptcies." She says "they're out of bankruptcy now."
Before the holidays, O'Donnell made fun of the real estate mogul and said on the show that Trump had been "bankrupt so many times."
In an interview airing Wednesday on "Entertainment Tonight," Trump took aim at O'Donnell again by saying "ultimately she'll be dismissed" from her duties on "The View."Photos: Rosie O'Donnell
O'Donnell and Trump have been feuding since he gave Miss USA a second chance after allegations of underage drinking. O'Donnell said he had no right to be Tara Connor's "moral compass."
While she was on vacation, Walters commented on the ongoing feud between her co-host and Trump.
In a statement given to The ShowBuzz, Walters said: "Donald Trump is a personal friend of mine and has been a good friend to 'The View' for many years. I'm sorry there is friction between Donald and Rosie. That said, I do not regret for one moment my choice to hire Rosie O'Donnell as the moderator of 'The View'. I certainly hope and expect that this tempest will pass quickly."
Trump phoned into "Good Day LA" on Dec. 22 and said: "Let me tell you something, Barbara Walters is a good friend of mine, she cannot stand Rosie O'Donnell." He added that he doesn't plan on appearing on the ABC program again.
He responded to Walter's statement by saying, "Well, I can tell you for a fact that that's not what Barbara told me. Barbara is not a fan of Rosie. She's embarrassed by Rosie. She doesn't like Rosie. And I guess she can't say that publicly. But trust me, Larry, that's what she told me over the phone."
During his media onslaught, Trump said he was "certainly thinking really strongly" about filing a suit against O'Donnell.
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While not a Trump fan, Rosie did start it.... Trump crossed the line, as did Rosie. Would she not be the bigger person, no pun intended, if she apologized....she did her facts wrong about his bankruptcy.....and it was she who first sat in moral judgement.
I'd rather hear from the gay person in the committed relationship myself.
Not wanting to hide in the closet is not "promote[ing] her homosexual deviance to the children of America every time a mike is stuck before her fat face."
What we have here is a failure to communicate: I do not accept your obvious premise that being openly gay is perverted or deviant or parading anything unsavory.
The 50s called: They want their bigotry back.
O'Donnell and BaBa WaWa belong together, they are two muck-raking people that will do or say anything for attention.
Here are two women(sic) whose expensive livelihoods depends on controversy; the Jerry Springer show for women so to speak.
Remember, "bad publicity is better than no publicity at all".
That's show biz, folks.
I think Trump is an ego-maniacal doofus. Rosie made comments about something The Donald had DONE. He simply called her fat. Wow. That's a clever retort.
If Kelly Ripa and Kathy Lee can talk about their kids and home life, so can Ms O'D. If it makes you uncomfortable, you can vote with your remote.
But try to understand that just because something makes YOU uncomfortable, doesn't mean it's "perverted."
That's your judgment. Not everyone's (thank god).
It is a predictable as the sun rising in the east- no matter what the topic really is, any topic that has Rosie O'D involved will degenerate into name calling and hate-speech by the social conservatives. Quick question--would you hate her so much if she were a thin, play-mate looking lesbian? Or a non-anorexic straight woman?
If The View is so unwatchable these days, why are the ratings up?