ABC’s “The View” panel didn’t address the news that rocked followers of the program last week that Rosie O’Donnell would leave the daytime talk show, but did share a few choice words about Kanye West’s Grammy tantrum.
On Friday, O’Donnell’s representative confirmed the week of Feb. 9 would mark the comedienne’s last appearance on the show with Whoopi Goldberg, Nicolle Wallace and Rosie Perez, TheWrap previously reported.
“I can confirm that Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November,” O’Donnell’s representative told TheWrap in a statement. “Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention. This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first. ABC has been wonderfully understanding and supportive of her personal decision to leave ‘The View.’ Next week will be her last.”
O’Donnell had rejoined “The View” last summer after departing seven years earlier. ABC said it “respected and understood” her decision.
Her departure follows reports of ABC’s plan to replace co-host Rosie Perez. Last month while Perez was rehearsing for Larry David‘s Broadway play, “Fish in the Dark,” reports surfaced she wouldn’t return from the hiatus as ABC scouted for a host with youth appeal.
Although the hosts were tight-lipped on O’Donnell’s final days, Goldberg ripped Kanye West for a backstage rant at the 57th annual Grammy Awards Sunday. The rapper took issue with Beck winning Album of the Year for “Morning Phase” over other nominees, particularly Beyoncé.
“As an artist, Kanye, you know what it’s like when someone questions your artistry. I don’t know if you listened to Beck’s album, but it’s pretty damn good,” Goldberg said. “[Kanye] knows better.”
“You know, I love him too, but he just sang the beautiful song about this mother and daughter and then right away, as Whoopi would say, he stepped in doo-doo,” O’Donnell chimed in.
Goldberg added, “Everyone on that stage is a real artist, honey.”
Watch video of the discussion here.