Lisa Ling is setting the document straight on Barbara Walters‘ departure from The View.
As you realize, the legendary journalist handed away in December of final yr, forsaking an unbelievable TV legacy. She began her profession at NBC in 1953 earlier than she moved to ABC within the 70s. She turned one of many world’s pre-eminent interviewers. And in any case these many years 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 no less than that’s what we have been instructed — based on a former co-host the story is a bit bit totally different.
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In an interview with The Lower final month, Lisa Ling recalled a dialog she had with Barbara in 2014 throughout filming of her final episode of the speak present. Based on the 49-year-old journalist, she leaned over to Barbara throughout a industrial break and mentioned:
“Barbara, in a few months, are you going to be lounging in a hammock in Tahiti?”
To which the then 84-year-old replied in a whisper:
“They’re making me give up.”
What??
The This Is Life host mentioned she’d “by no means shared this with anybody” — and we are able to see why! It will’ve undoubtedly prompted an enormous stir within the media on the time. Heck, it’s surprising as hell now! However after the information legend’s passing, we guess she feels extra comfy being open?
Barbara definitely didn’t. She performed together with the community’s story — throughout the identical episode she maintained she was “trying ahead” to retiring:
“I’m trying ahead to not having a schedule. I’ve at all times had a schedule. I’m unsure I’d know what it could be like.”
Was this a lie? Did she actually wish to keep and ABC wasn’t letting her? Hmm…
Earlier than her retirement in 2013, she spoke to The Los Angeles Instances and mentioned she didn’t wish to work on some other present:
“I don’t wish to seem on one other program or climb one other mountain. I wish to as an alternative sit on a sunny discipline and admire the very gifted ladies — and OK, some males too — who might be taking my place.”
However did she imply she didn’t wish to work a distinct present — however would have stored engaged on The View?? She additionally instructed The Guardian the identical yr:
“It’s been a joyful, rewarding, difficult, fascinating and infrequently bumpy trip and I wouldn’t change a factor. It’s my resolution, I’ve been occupied with it for a very long time, and that is what I wish to do.”
It looks like after her retirement she determined to stay to the narrative that it was her resolution — however beforehand, based on 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? Selection reported shortly after her loss of life in 2022 that she’d been affected by important reminiscence loss:
“Barbara would have by no means retired from TV if she may have stayed on without end. However as she received into her late 80s, her well being deteriorated.”
What do U assume, Perezcious readers? Do you consider Barbara was defending the community in her last years? Did they do her soiled in any case she gave them?? Tell us within the feedback (under).
[Image via The View/YouTube/Lisa Ling/Instagram]
