Rosie O’Donnell has talked about her time on The View in the past, but never quite like this.
In a wide-ranging interview on the Hot Takes & Deep Dives podcast, the funny lady spilled all kinds of tea about the hit morning show, its executive producer, and that crazy blowout she had with homophobe Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who she implies wasn’t the brightest bulb in the bunch.
According to Rosie, Hasselbeck was spoon fed a lot of the crazy B.S. she spewed by Bill Geddie, who served as the show’s executive producer from 1997 to 2014, when he was forced out following Barbara Walters’ retirement.
“She had Bill Geddie, who I don’t think is very pro-feminist, pro-women, he is the opposite,” Rosie said.
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Related: Rosie O’Donnell breaks her silence on the ongoing Ellen drama
“He and I did not get along. And that was very obvious. He was afraid I was going to have him fired. I had no interest in taking that job. I just wanted it to be a better show.”
Rosie then went on to recall how Geddie, who frequently clashed with the show’s more liberal co-hosts, would give Hasselbeck conservative talking points and counterpoints to use against the other women on air.
“I know he did it every single day,” she said. “He would go into our dressing room and talk to her about what the Republican talking points were for that day.”
“So how I came to do it was I would get the Republican talking points and I would look. So I would be prepared on what she was going to say, you know?”
The two women constantly butted heads. And it seemed, at times, like they downright hated each other. But Rosie says she really tried to build a friendship with Hasselbeck, despite her nastiness and extreme antigay views.
“She’s an interesting person,” Rosie said. “I tried, no matter what, to love her. I took her kids to Sesame Street and I took her to her first Broadway show. And, you know, I don’t really know what she’s about.”
As for where they stand today, Rosie said she truly tried to “get over our differences” but “we never did,” in large part because Hasselbeck simply wasn’t interested.
Then in 2019, she insinuated Rosie was a sexual predator after Rosie said she had a “crush” on her in an interview.
Related: Elisabeth Hasselbeck ‘immediately started praying’ when she heard Rosie had a crush on her
“When she took the quote about me having a crush on her saying it was like if a man had a crush on her, I’m like, oh, dear god,” Rosie recalled. “That was not the intent nor the way she took it. And she knows it, which is the bottom line. She knows it.”
She added, “I said something that I had a crush on her, but it was not a sexualized crush. It was just like a girl crush like she was the MVP of a Division one softball team.”
“She was a cute little girl, you know, but I was in no way predatory wanting her or sexualizing it. I was just showing myself, love can win.”
Watch.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
ScottOnEarth
What’s so, ‘OMG you guys” about this non-story? The entire wold already knew what an idiot Hasselbeck is and how awesome Rosie is. Such a waste of space to print this.
Josh447
“OMG you guys” sounds like a whiney 6 year old little girl.
This article is ancient news, why even troll with it.
Josh447
“OMG you guys” sounds like a whiney 6 year old little girl. This article is ancient news, why even troll with it.
Hdtex
Then start your own blog or STFU.
Josh447
Yeah like you matter. As if…
curranz
Invitation to a sex club – xmeet.fun
doristhom
xmeet.fun – exelent project for adults who are looking for a partner for sex!
winemaker
Who really cares about rosie o/’donnel? Another big mouthed blowhard ‘attention whore’ who has nothing really relevant and positive to say. Good thing she made her dough on her long ago, like 25 years ago, waste of an hour talk show.. .She was as rude and obnoxious then as when on the ‘view.’ Good thing babs walters canned her fat ass due to her rude and obnoxious behavior Yet babs re[placed ‘rosie with whoppie ‘cushion’ goldberg another obnoxious waste of time which can be said of all the ladies on the ‘view’. At least Riki Lake who was on opposite the rosie o’donnel show had interesting if not sometimes strange guests.
Cam
Awwww, the same account that is over on another thread defending anti-LGBTQ bigots is enraged that Rosie exposed that Republicans on the show were fed talking points by a sexist producer.
Oh, and sweetie, that tactic of attacking anybody exposing issues as “Just wanting attention” stopped working years ago.
Josh447
This is really getting old. You do know what trolling supposed trolls makes you right? You got it.
Vince
Josh447
Ha. The Pot calls the Kettle black.
Josh447
Vince
I don’t call out people/”trolls” with supposed multiple screen names but if you like, prove it, take your best shot. Yeah ya can’t.
Josh447
Vince
I don’t call out people/”trolls” with supposed multiple screen names but if you like, prove it, take your best shot.
Yeah ya can’t.
Bengali
Awww. Here you are again you punk. Anti-LGBTQ+ YOU. Maybe you’re a bit GAY yourself since you troll LGBTQ+ sites. More than curiosity I think. Does your wife know you spend a lot of time here?
jsmu
As if anyone on earth didn’t know HasselB*TCH was a MAGAtroll ho years past her SELL-BY DATE? Notice her stellar ‘career’ since The View. Is she doing OnlyFans For Botoxed Cougars yet?
Fahd
Very disappointing story after that headline. There’s nothing “OMG” about finding out that Hasselback didn’t do her own research or thinking; or that Rosie O’Donell denies being an alleged sexual predator with improper designs on Hasselback. Now that Towleroad is going through a rough period, I’m reading Queerty more, but its disappointing most days. Any good gay blogs left?
radiooutmike
Well, Hasselbeck is from Cranston, RI– so she’s pretty much super-duper Catholic. Sure, she’s cute and was on Survivor. But that’s it.
I think it’s a toss up between who was the worst her or John McCains daughter.
Mr. Stadnick
Why was this even downloaded? Did it have any information other than a podcast talked to Rosie? The rest was filler and bland. OMG this is crap!
laurent7465
I had to go back up to the top of the article to check the date of the story! I thought this was a piece re-posted from, like, 6 years ago only to learn it was posted FIVE hours ago. Queerty, if you don’t have anything interesting to report on any given day, just say ‘hey guy’s, we’re just not feeling it today. Sorry, check back tomorrow.” I’d be totally fine with that instead of wasting my time with click bate stories or more aptly, non-stories. Be Better.
Creamsicle
Nothing’s juicier than a rivalry from 2007!
Neither O’Donnell’s nor Hasselbeck’s political opinions really matter. Neither of them influence policy, they just perform on a talk show where people want to see a bunch if rich middle aged women create pointless tension between themselves.
It’s kind of like the self-perpetuating torture setups in The Good Place.
AxelDC
How old is this story? The producer left the show in 2014, so the most recent relevancy is already 7 years old now.
So you don’t like your ex co-workers? Get over it!
tjack47
Yawn.
j41005
Calling Rosie a “funny lady” is a stretch. There’s nothing funny about her. She’s a sad, miserable human being.
Nothing she says is funny or interesting.
Cam
Weird, all of your vitriol was for the out lesbian and none for the anti-LGBTQ bigot.
darkanser
Truthfully, I recall hearing that Hasselbeck was going on The View and found that odd. I personally didn’t know she existed before Survivor and then she wound up on The View. I mean I don’t know what qualifies anyone to go on The View. It was just my reaction. I won’t even touch Meghan McCain!!
Paulie P
who the f sits in their living room wondering how can I click bait the readers today?
this non story is just that a non story.
queerty must get money for every click they get on any one of their non stories.
Troyfight
…aah, back when Rosie had pretty hair 🙁