‘The View’ Fans Worry About The Well Being Of Barbara Walters As Whoopi Goldberg Gives Rare Update On Her Health

Concerns are growing about the health of legendary television personality Barbara Walters, who has not been seen in public for years, after Whoopi Goldberg gave a rare update about her on ABC’s talk show The View.

Goldberg Gives Walters A Shoutout

Goldberg kicked off Monday’s show by giving a shoutout to Walters who just turned 93 this past weekend. Walters, who not only created and produced The View, also co-hosted the long-running talks how for almost two decades.

“To the one and only Barbara Walters, who had a birthday yesterday, we wanna say, 27 never looked so good!” Goldberg said. 

Fans Respond

The Sun reported that fans took to social media to wonder why they “never hear about her” anymore.

“I’m wondering the same thing, haven’t seen her since 2017 I believe,” another fan commented, with a third fan writing, “I wish she were still able to be on The View.”

“I wonder how Barbara Walters is doing. . . When she said she was retiring, she meant that thing,” one concerned fan wrote. “She went ALL the way out of the public view. Happy Birthday!”

Walters retired from The View back in 2014 at the age of 85, and she has not had a public appearance since 2016. Earlier this year, Walters was noticeably absent from the talk show’s 25th anniversary.

Related: Here’s Why Barbara Walters Fired Joy Behar From ‘The View’

Rumors Swirl That Walters Have Dementia

Though nothing concrete has been revealed about how Walters is doing these days, reports have long circulated that she is suffering from dementia. 

“She’s in bad, bad shape,” a source told OK! Magazine back in 2020. “She seems lonely and spends most of her time alone.”

The source went on to allege that Walters is suffering from both dementia and heart disease; living a life of isolation in her New York City apartment, where a butler — who reportedly manages her affairs and turns guests away — is one of the TV legend’s only sources of contact.

“Friends have not spoken with Barbara in two years,” another source alleged to Radar Online in 2019. “They’re really heartbroken about it, and don’t understand why they can’t visit her.”

Walters’ Memory Allegedly Started To Fail Her In 2013

When one close friend attempted to reach out to Walters, she said that she received back a “truly bizarre” curt email in return from her staffers that read: “Dictated from Barbara, she says thank you.”

It’s been claimed that Walters’ memory started to fail her in 2013, the year before she officially retired.

“Barbara suffers from exhaustion and fatigue, as well as anxiety and agitation,” said one insider. “She’s very frail and spends a great deal of the day napping!”

“Sadly, her dementia has been getting worse. Her caretakers give her the opportunity to make everyday decisions, but more often than not she’ll stare at them blankly,” the source added, claiming that Walters rarely leaves her bed and “spends most of the day looking out her windows.”

Related: Brooke Shields Calls Out Barbara Walters For ‘Criminal’ Interview

Goldberg Allegedly Visited Walters

Another source alleged that when Goldberg tried to pay her a visit back in 2019, Walters “wouldn’t stop” screaming and “no one could calm her down.” Goldberg eventually “excused herself from the room” and “was heartbroken by what she saw.”

It should be noted that none of these reports have been confirmed by Walters or anyone else in her camp. Even so, the fact that she hasn’t been seen in public for six years indicates that something could very well be wrong with Walters’ health.

Widely known for being an intellectual, Barbara Walters was a true legend in her field so it would be heartbreaking to learn that dementia has clouded her mind in her old age. Please join us in saying a prayer for Walters as she turns 93.