Star Jones vs. Barbara Walters: The Feud That Won't Die (Thankfully)
Don't think for a minute that the nasty-nasty between Star Jones and Barbara Walters is over.
Yesterday, Babs opened the show by quipping: "And then there were three." From there, she launched into a two-minute explanation about why Star wasn't there. Here's a snippet:
"We gave her time to look for another job and hoped that she would announce it on this program and leave with dignity," said Walters, confirming Jones Reynolds' contract for a 10th season had not been renewed. "But Star made another choice."
Did you think Star would let that go? Hell to the no, folks.
In an interview with the NY Daily News, Star defended herself, saying she was disappointed she was no longer welcome on the set of The View.
Star on Barbara's comments: "For Barbara to say she felt betrayed is the height of hypocrisy."
On Rosie O'Donnell being hired: "Rosie had attacked me on every single evening entertainment program. Barbara used that week to call her and invite her to be part of a show that I helped launch nine years ago."
On being fired: "Barbara did not call me herself. After nine years, she didn't call me. They told me my contract would not be renewed because my approval rating had gone down. ... I was like, whoa! I came to work every day. I held my head up. I operated in grace and dignity. I knew since April but I still came to work."
Meanwhile, a source at The View told the NY Daily News that the staff was glad to see Star leave, saying: "Star has very effectively alienated everybody on the show."
While I eagerly await Barbara's rebuttal, he'res my opinion on the whole thing: Star's approval rating must have gone down. Between the free stuff she was scoring on air for her wedding, endless jabber about Al and refusing to admit to the gastric bypass, she was tres annoying. And there have been rumors -- for years -- that she's a pain in the heinie to work with. So it was her time to go. She made her dramatic exit -- and is getting lots of headlines for it. And this press is definitely helping Barbara and The View. Now it's time for Star to move on to something else... like staying home and driving her husband crazy for a little while. And I predict that in six months she'll be back in our face one again.
