Behind-The-Scenes Drama You Didn't Know Happened On The View

ABC's The View is the like the Wild Wild West of daytime television. Not only has the show seen a revolving door of hosts throughout the years, but there have been plenty of on-air blowups and heated walk-offs, all of which contribute to the series' popularity. But if you think The View's explosive on-air antics are just for ratings, think again. The program is also teeming with behind-the-scenes drama and backstage feuds. 

When journalist Barbara Walters created The View in 1997, she probably didn't anticipate that the talk show's internal drama would overshadow its initial mission. The groundbreaking project promised a "team of dynamic women of different ages, experiences and backgrounds discussing the most exciting events of the day," but the truth is, there's often more screaming than "discussing" among its co-hosts. Moderator Whoopi Goldberg, for instance, didn't always get along with former co-host Jenny McCarthy, and a tell-all book has since shed some light on their tense relationship. We won't spoil it for you just yet, but let's just say McCarthy's accusations against Goldberg aren't pretty. Another surprising beef? Look no further than comedian Rosie O'Donnell and a View senior producer. Tensions between the two supposedly got physical, and the producer later sued O'Donnell for slander.

Now that we've set the stage, here's the behind the scenes drama you didn't know happened on The View.

Considering The View is Barbara Walters' brainchild, it's fair to assume she has the final say on-set. If you ask Jenny McCarthy, however, she'll tell you that Walters was frequently vetoed by co-host Whoopi Goldberg. McCarthy made her shocking claim in Ramin Setoodeha's tell-all book, Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View. "The table reminds me a little bit of Survivor," McCarthy says (via Vulture). "There was a war between Barbara and Whoopi about Barbara wanting to moderate. This is one of the reasons I decided not to ally with Whoopi. It broke my heart when Barbara would shuffle to Whoopi and say, 'Can I moderate please?' And Whoopi would say no." McCarthy also claims Goldberg was a control freak on the set: "To me, Whoopi had an addiction to controlling people's thoughts, their words, the room, the table, your feeling, your mood. She had an addiction to controlling all of it and everybody." 

Of course, all this tea has been spilled by McCarthy with no response from Goldberg, so take it as you will. However, this certainly isn't the first time the show's co-hosts have not presented a united front. 

Any longtime fan of The View is probably well aware of Rosie O'Donnell's feud with former co-host and conservative commentator Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The two frequently clashed on various hot topics, and their last on-air fight was over the Iraq War. O'Donnell left The View after this May 2007 blowout because she was allegedly upset that producers used a split-screen to show the two screaming at one another during the heated debate.

Instead of moving on, these two have continued to bash one another in the press post-View. Hasselbeck, who left the show in July 2013 for Fox & Friends, threw a nasty jab O'Donnell's way when O'Donnell was in talks to re-join the series. During a July 2014 segment of Fox & Friends, Hasselbeck reportedly made it clear she wasn't feeling that option. "Here in comes to The View the very woman who spit in the face of our military, spit in the face of her own network, and really in the face of a person who stood by her and had civilized debates for the time that she was there, she said (via Page Six). Hasselbeck accused O'Donnell of using Barbara Walters' farewell episode as her personal "hello show." 

What viewers don't know about Hasselbeck's rant, however, is that she supposedly played nice to O'Donnell's face during the special. According to O'Donnell, Hasselbeck "was hiding in her dressing room — til i walked right in and said hello – her reply LETS TAKE A SELFIE!!" 

It's not uncommon for cast members to get together off-camera, whether it's for a party or a casual dinner, so nothing seems unusual about Meghan McCain discussing grabbing drinks with fellow co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar. What is a bit shocking? McCain supposedly didn't extend an invite to then co-host Sara Haines, who eventually left the series to join Good Morning America in September 2018. "Sara made light of the incident on air, but she was really upset by the whole thing," a source told the Daily Mail. "She has a really wonderful relationship with both Joy and Sunny and felt as though they were picking sides. Her feelings were definitely hurt."

The situation was especially awkward because McCain joined The View in October 2017, roughly a year after Haines joined the panel. Was this a case of the new girl trying to mark her territory? Making matters even worse: McCain reportedly treated Haines "like she didn't exist most days" for seemingly no reason, according to the Daily Mail source. Given the tense environment, Haines supposedly jumped at the chance to co-host GMA with former football pro Michael Strahan. "Joining The View was a dream for Sara until Meghan came on the show," the insider said. "Now, Sara will be able to thrive in a less-toxic environment with Michael, someone she already enjoys working with."

When a cast member decides to leave a successful talk show, they typically coordinate with their bosses to ensure a smooth departure. From deciding on the date of their last episode to how they'll announce the news, it's important for all parties involved to be on the same page. Someone who didn't get this memo? Star Jones, co-host on The View from 1997 to 2006. Not only did Jones butt heads with some of her fellow co-hosts, but she allegedly botched her exit from the show. 

Barbara Walters addressed the drama in her May 2008 memoir, Audition, claiming that Jones unexpectedly announced her departure on the show days before her scheduled date. Walters was particularly hurt because she had not revealed to the press that Jones' contract had not been renewed. "I reiterated that she could give any reason wanted for leaving and could also choose the date to depart the program," Walters wrote. "We would dedicate a full-hour retrospective tribute to her and give her a farewell party on the air." 

But to Walters' surprise, Jones went off-script on live TV. "...Star suddenly grabs my hand and Joy's and said that after much 'prayer and counsel,' she had decided to leave the program," Walters recalled. To add insult to injury, Jones had already told People magazine — in an interview scheduled for publication that same day — that she had been fired ahead of Rosie O'Donnell's return. 

Former co-host Rosie O'Donnell isn't afraid to speak her mind, a sentiment that became clear after she supposedly got into a heated argument with a senior producer on The View. O'Donnell allegedly believed that the producer, Jennifer Brookman, had leaked stories to the press about behind-the-scenes drama at the show. It all came to a head during a January 2015 staff meeting, when O'Donnell supposedly insinuated that an insider was to blame for the salacious media stories. When one of the producers denied their involvement to O'Donnell, she allegedly said: "I know it was Jennifer."

Brookman wasn't thrilled with O'Donnell's accusations, and she filed a lawsuit in 2015, accusing the co-host of slander, reported the Daily Mail. A source also told the tab that "Rosie stormed towards Jennifer and had to be physically restrained by her own staff who were dragging her away, screaming and shouting" during the aforementioned meeting. 

A source told Page Six a different version of events, claiming Brookman was the one who lost her cool first. "During a production meeting, Jennifer began mumbling behind Rosie, who told her, 'If you have something to say, say it to my face!' So Jennifer did — she laced into Rosie, and there was a shouting match. Jennifer was loud, and profoundly and publicly disrespectful to Rosie." 

Brookman — who worked at the show for 14 years — was supposedly fired because of the incident. As for the lawsuit? A judge dismissed the defamation case in November 2017.