with Rosie O'Donnel and Donald Trump????? Also what really happened on the View between Rosie and Elizabeth? Taken from Rosie O'Donnell's wikipedia:
On December 20, 2006, O'Donnell criticized billionaire Donald Trump for holding a press conference to reinstate Miss USA Tara Conner, accusing him of using her scandal to "generate publicity for the Miss USA Pageant" (to which he owns the rights) by announcing he was giving her a second chance.[68] Conner had violated pageant guidelines by clubbing and drinking underage[69], as well as having "wild nights" and alleged sexual liaisons (including kissing and "dirty dancing") with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair in public[68], yet was allowed to keep her crown on condition that she enter rehab. O'Donnell commented that due to Trump's multiple marital affairs and questionable business bankruptcies, he was not a moral authority for young people in America. She stated, "Left the first wife, had an affair. Left the second wife, had an affair -- but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America!"[70]
In response, Trump began a media blitz[71] in which he appeared on various television shows, either in person or by phone, threatening to sue O'Donnell. He called her mean-spirited names[71], threatened to take away her partner Kelli[8], and claimed that Barbara Walters regretted hiring her.[72] Walters responded that both Trump and O'Donnell are highly opinionated people and that Trump has never filed for bankruptcy, but several of his casino companies did but are now out of bankruptcy. She also denied that she was unhappy with O'Donnell, saying, "I have never regretted, nor do I now, the hiring of Rosie O'Donnell."[72]
Argument with Elisabeth Hasselbeck
On the May 23, 2007, episode of The View, O'Donnell became engaged in a heated debate with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.[91] O'Donnell asserted that Hasselbeck was "cowardly" for not answering whether she believed O'Donnell thinks of American troops as terrorists (in reference to O'Donnell's comment earlier in the week in which she said 655,000 Iraqis have died since the United States invasion and asked "who are the terrorists"). O'Donnell also complained of how the media would portray her as a bully attacking "innocent pure Christian Elisabeth" whenever they disagreed on air. O'Donnell stated that she believed Republican pundits were misinterpreting her statements by accusing her of comparing American troops to terrorists, and had asked Hasselbeck if she agreed with the Republican pundits. Hasselbeck denied O'Donnell's accusation, claiming that she knew she didn't think that US soldiers were "terrorists" but told O'Donnell that it was not her place to defend someone else's controversial statements.
The debate became even more heated as co-hosts Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd made several attempts to stop the argument, including trying to change the discussion to topics like the results of Dancing With the Stars. When the feud continued past the five minute mark, Shepherd ventured to cut to commercial break. O'Donnell silenced the effort by saying "No, no, no we're not. No because we have a lot more time." Minutes later Behar endeavored again to end the argument by interjecting "Is there no commercial on this show? What are we on, PBS? Who is directing this show? Let's go to commercial!" Shepherd responded by asking Hasselbeck if her unborn child was "okay" after the heated argument. The show did in fact cut to commercials shortly afterwards, and the subject was not resumed.
O'Donnell and ABC agreed to cut short her contract agreement on May 25, 2007 as a result of this issue.[92]
In a press statement released May 25, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell said she bore no ill will towards Hasselbeck and says that she "loves all three women". However, in her blog, O'Donnell stated she has not talked to Hasselbeck. She later posted a video on her blog discussing her future relationship with Hasselbeck. In a subsequent blog posting, O'Donnell stated that "I haven't spoken to Elisabeth, and I probably ever won't".[93] She also attempted to restate the controversial comment that had caused the feud with Hasselbeck saying, "the cowards who sent our troops to this war . . . those men are the terrorists."[94] According to ABC News, O'Donnell said that she knew her time on the show was over when she saw the exchange reported in the news media with the split screen effect showing her and Hasselbeck on either side. ABC News also reported that her arguments with Hasselbeck brought the show its best ratings ever.[95] |
