Elisabeth Hasselbeck Demands Rosie O’Donnell “Stop the Madness” Over Decades-Old Feud
Quality journalism is vital for a healthy democracy.At The Self-reliant, we are committed to providing trusted reporting on issues that matter – from reproductive rights and climate change to the influence of Big Tech. Support our work by donating today.
Former The View co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Rosie O’Donnell are once again embroiled in a public dispute, wiht Hasselbeck issuing a direct plea to O’Donnell to end what she describes as years of “madness” and “lying” regarding their contentious on-air history. The renewed conflict stems from O’Donnell recently revisiting claims that their infamous 2007 shouting match was orchestrated by show producers.
The original clash, which occurred during a May 2007 episode of the ABC daytime talk show, centered on O’Donnell’s accusation that Hasselbeck failed to defend her against criticism from right-wing media outlets following O’Donnell’s comments about the Iraq War. O’Donnell reignited the controversy during a recent interview on the Australian radio program Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel.
Hasselbeck responded with a series of emotional video clips posted to her Instagram Story on Thursday,which have since expired. According to Entertainment Weekly,Hasselbeck implored the 63-year-old A League of Their Own actor to find release from whatever is “causing you to cause such harm.” “And it can just be so much more free, Rosie, if you can just stop. Stop the madness, stop the lying and just be free,” Hasselbeck stated. “And even maybe if you don’t stop,I still forgive you.”
Hasselbeck further claimed that ABC executives compelled her to call O’Donnell and apologize following their on-air altercation, an apology that ultimately preceded O’Donnell’s initial departure from The View in May 2007. O’Donnell later returned to the show for a six-month period in 2014/2015, after Hasselbeck had been let go.
The former Survivor contestant believes O’Donnell consistently brings up their past feud “in a way that’s personally attacking me and the integrity of our work there and my personal character.” Hasselbeck extended an invitation for a private conversation, suggesting a meeting at her home. “I love my friends who disagree with me. I tried to call you many times and reach out to you after that, Rosie, and you don’t want repair,” she said. “I have to go here as you won’t respond. If you want to get together and talk, let’s do it, come over and swim in my pool, come take a couple laps, come back to America and enjoy your nation. We can have an open free dialogues about what we disagree on.I’ll make you dinner, what do you want to stop the bullying?”
In a particularly poignant statement, Hasselbeck offered a prayer for O’Donnell, saying, “In Jesus’ name I pray the lies held over you are released and that you can feel freedom and real joy without feeling satisfaction from trying to lie about somebody and destroy their character.”
The Independent has reached out to O’Donnell’s representatives for comment. O’donnell is widely recognized for her politically liberal viewpoints and, earlier this year, reportedly relocated to Ireland in response to the possibility of a second term for President Donald trump.Hasselbeck, conversely, established herself as a prominent conservative voice on The View from 2003 to 2013, and her departure came as ABC sought to steer the show in a “less political direction,” as she detailed in her 2019 memoir, Point of View.Hasselbeck described feeling “a dose of betrayal and a whopper of confusion” at the time of her dismissal.
