Lisa Ling is setting the report straight on Barbara Walters‘ departure from The View.
As , the legendary journalist handed away in December of final yr, abandoning an unimaginable TV legacy. She began her profession at NBC in 1953 earlier than she moved to ABC within the 70s. She grew to become one of many world’s pre-eminent interviewers. And in any case these a long time within the biz, she revolutionized daytime TV in 1997 by creating The View. She hosted the roundtable present for 17 seasons till 2014 when she lastly determined to retire. Or at the least that’s what we had been informed — in response to a former co-host the story is slightly bit completely different.
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In an interview with The Cut final month, Lisa Ling recalled a dialog she had with Barbara in 2014 throughout filming of her final episode of the discuss present. According to the 49-yr-outdated journalist, she leaned over to Barbara throughout a business break and mentioned:
“Barbara, in a couple of months, are you going to be lounging in a hammock in Tahiti?”
To which the then 84-yr-outdated replied in a whisper:
“They’re making me quit.”
What??
The This Is Life host mentioned she’d “never shared this with anyone” — and we are able to see why! It would’ve positively precipitated an enormous stir within the media on the time. Heck, it’s surprising as hell now! But after the information legend’s passing, we guess she feels extra snug being open?
Barbara definitely didn’t. She performed together with the community’s story — throughout the identical episode she maintained she was “looking forward” to retiring:
“I’m looking forward to not having a schedule. I’ve always had a schedule. I’m not sure I’d know what it would be like.”
Was this a lie? Did she actually need to keep and ABC wasn’t letting her? Hmm…
Before her retirement in 2013, she spoke to The Los Angeles Times and mentioned she didn’t need to work on another present:
“I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I want to instead sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women — and OK, some men too — who will be taking my place.”
But did she imply she didn’t need to work a distinct present — however would have stored engaged on The View?? She additionally informed The Guardian the identical yr:
“It’s been a joyful, rewarding, challenging, fascinating and occasionally bumpy ride and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s my decision, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and this is what I want to do.”
It looks as if after her retirement she determined to stay to the narrative that it was her resolution — however beforehand, in response to Lisa, it was a distinct story. Was she simply towing the corporate line whereas being put out to pasture? What a tragic thought…
Our query is, why would they make her give up? Ageism? Or perhaps her declining well being? Variety reported shortly after her loss of life in 2022 that she’d been affected by vital reminiscence loss:
“Barbara would have never retired from TV if she could have stayed on forever. But as she got into her late 80s, her health deteriorated.”
What do U suppose, Perezcious readers? Do you imagine Barbara was defending the community in her last years? Did they do her soiled in any case she gave them?? Let us know within the feedback (under).
[Image via The View/YouTube/Lisa Ling/Instagram]
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