Wrong Rosie, right exit. Less than a month after ABC News shot down a trade scoop that Rosie Perez soon would be leaving its morning talk show, the news operation has confirmed that Rosie O’Donnell is exiting The View. She will continue to co-host the show through next week.
“Rosie is an immensely talented star who comes in each and every morning brimming with ideas, excitement and passion for the show,” ABC News said in a statement. When she told us that she wanted to exit The View, we respected and understood her desire to put her well-being and her family first. We’re delighted she’s still part of the ABC family with upcoming guest appearances on The Fosters. And we know she’ll return to The View often with her unique point of view and updates on her work and her family.”
In tonight’s announcement, ABC News did not say who it was mulling to replace O’Donnell. But given that the news unit inherited this panel when it took over the show in late October — just once month after the new cast had been announced — it would not be surprising if it went with someone with a news background.
Meanwhile, O’Donnell’s personal rep Cindi Berger offered up a reason why the co-host is leaving. “Rosie and her wife Michelle split in November,” Berger said in a statement tonight. “Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention. … 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.”
Source
