Rosie O’Donnell says that she ‘sometimes’ rewatches notorious “View” blow-up with Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Rosie O’Donnell says that she ‘sometimes’ rewatches notorious “View” blow-up with Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Kathleen PerriconeSun, July 26, 2026 at 9:15 PM UTC
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Rosie O’Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbeck during infamous argument on ‘The View’ in 2007Credit: ABC(2)Key Points -
Two decades after Rosie O’Donnell’s viral blow-up with Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The View, she admits, “sometimes I watch that one.”
The cohosts famously argued about the surge of U.S. troops in the Middle East during a May 23, 2007, episode.
Two days after the heated exchange, O’Donnell abruptly quit the show three weeks before the end of her contract.
Two decades later, Rosie O’Donnell often revisits her viral blow-up with Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The View.
On May 23, 2007, the cohost’s opposing political views came to a head as liberal O’Donnell and conservative Hasselbeck argued over the surge of U.S. troops deployed to the Middle East amid the ongoing Iraq War. As the two went at it, View producers capitalized on the heated moment by famously utilizing a split-screen display.
“Sometimes I watch that one,” the actress confessed to PEOPLE during a game of “Truth or Dare” in which she acknowledged the Survivor alum was her “least favorite” cohost on the panel.
Rosie O’Donnell on June 15, 2026Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty
“Listen, it’s known that me and Elisabeth Hasselbeck did not have a great ending to our friendship, so I would say that was the most problematic, perhaps,” O’Donnell continued. “But we did get along right up until the end, and then it blew up on national TV.”
At the time, O’Donnell was already set to exit the ABC talk show at the end of the season. But two days after her showdown with Hasselbeck, she abruptly quit (later citing the split-screen as the reason). For the 10th season, O’Donnell was replaced by Whoopi Goldberg as moderator.
A decade before her viral View moment, O’Donnell achieved a lifelong dream when she interviewed her idol, Barbra Streisand, on her eponymous daytime talk show. The host was in tears from the moment she introduced “The Way We Were” songstress — and to this day, she “can’t watch” the emotional 1997 interview.
“But if the Elisabeth Hasselbeck fight is on, I’m like, ‘Let me try to remember what this felt like.’ You know?” O’Donnell joked to PEOPLE.
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As for her “most favorite” cohost on The View, the actress picked Joy Behar, who’s been a fixture on the panel since its 1997 debut (minus a brief two-season break as a regular cohost from 2013 to 2015).
“We did stand up together for many years,” explained O’Donnell, “and she used to call me ‘Little One,’ because I was a young comic in my 20s.”
‘The View’ season 10 hosts: Rosie O’Donnell, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, and Elizabeth HasselbeckCredit: ABC
During Behar’s sabbatical, O’Donnell made a surprising return to The View in 2014, alongside Goldberg and new cohosts Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace. Months later, however, she had to exit again due to health issues.
But a third run on the ABC morning show could be the charm.
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“Next season is the 30th anniversary and Ana Navarro mentioned that when I did her podcast recently,” O’Donnell revealed to PEOPLE. “I think that I would, and just be a guest. I do think that for me, it’s not the best use of my time or talent to be arguing about politics with people, just in general, as a form of entertainment. It’s not where I shine the most. But I am a very patriotic American. I love this country.”
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
