Barbara Walters is reportedly refusing to return to the toxic The View panel, simply because ABC wants to boost the ratings of the show.
While it was reported earlier this week that Rosie O’Donnell announced her second exit from the show due to wanting to spend more time with her kids, Radar Online reported today that the producers at ABC are in a bit of a panic and badly want to save the ratings.
An inside source told the publication that, for her part, Barbara Walters is refusing to return to the show, “They’ve talked about bringing Barbara back for a three-week special in the summer to boost ratings. But she doesn’t want to touch the show. She thinks it’s toxic and doesn’t need the stress.”
At the age of 85, the veteran newswoman created quite a stir when she announced she was leaving The View . At the time, Walters was allegedly told she needed to leave the show to make way for a new, more modern look,
“She was basically told she needed to leave and the show needed a new look. So out of respect they gave her a long goodbye, but then they disrespected her when they also fired Bill out of the blue. Now they are asking her advice, so it’s a slap in the face,” the source said.
The ratings for the show started to plummet when Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy announced they were leaving last season. Things seem to have gone from bad to worse from there, with constant reports of bickering and even feuds among some of the panel members.
As the Radar source concluded, regarding Barbara Walters, “She doesn’t want to be a crutch while they figure out plan B. She feels like she left on her own terms. She’s resisting, but probably will do it.”
