Could we see a Rosie O’Donnell comeback on The View? Sounds like we’ll have to watch what happens…
On Thursday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live, O’Donnell mulled over returning to the talk show on which she made so many headlines between 2006 and 2007 — including an on-air spat with fellow panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who recently guest-hosted the show — and again between 2014 and 2015.
“While you’re in New York, would you be interested in guest-hosting on The View like Elisabeth Hasselbeck did? And did you get a chance to catch her on it?” a WWHL audience member asked O’Donnell on Thursday.
“I did catch her on it, and … I would be up to guest-host, but they haven’t asked me,” the comedian said with a laugh. “So we’ll see what happens. But, you know, listen, it’s interesting. In the time of [Donald] Trump, I think [Hasselbeck is] the perfect person they want on TV spouting their rhetoric.”
Heidi Gutman/ABC/Courtesy: Everett Collection
WWHL host Andy Cohen then asked O’Donnell if she’s still annoyed The View went to split-screen as she and Hasselbeck argued about the Iraq War in that infamous May 2007 episode.
“Yeah, I’m still annoyed,” the former talk show host responded. “Believe me. A mommy knows how to hold a grudge.”
On the Australian radio show Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel last year, O’Donnell said that the split-screen was an indication to her that the argument between her and Hasselbeck was a “setup” by the production team. O’Donnell left The View shortly after that episode.
Hasselbeck fired back on Instagram, per Entertainment Weekly, saying loving one another despite political differences is “not possible with someone like Rosie O’Donnell, who time and time again wants to spread lies and hate.”
And O’Donnell addressed Hasselbeck in a TikTok video, saying, “It was about the truth of what happened, from my perspective. That’s it. Hate to tell you, I don’t really think about you that much until an interviewer asks me. It’s not like I’m walking around going, “God, do you think Elisabeth will ever forgive me?’ I’m not.”
Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Sundays to Thursdays, 10/9c, Bravo
The View, Weekdays, 11a/10c, ABC