Last week, we reported that Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell had reunited in New York City. This came one year after O’Donnell fled America and moved to Ireland because of the second presidential victory of Donald Trump.
Goldberg and O’Donnell reuniting led many to speculate that the two former The View co-hosts had finally put their longstanding feud to rest. Now, however, insiders are claiming that this is not the case at all. Instead, these sources are alleging that Goldberg is still very much standing in the way of O’Donnell ever returning to The View for even a small guest appearance.
Goldberg And O’Donnell’s Feud
O’Donnell, 64, was a co-host on The View from 2006-2007 and again from 2014-2015. While being interviewed on Watch What Happens Live last Thursday, O’Donnell was asked if she’d be open to guest hosting The View like her former nemesis Elisabeth Hasselbeck did back in March.
“While you’re in New York, would you be interested in guest hosting on The View like Elizabeth Hasselbeck did? And did you get a chance to catch her on it?” an audience member asked.
“I would be up to guest host, but they haven’t asked me,” O’Donnell replied. “So we’ll see what happens.”
Goldberg, 70, has been the moderator on The View since 2007. While being interviewed for the 2019 book Ladies Who Punch, O’Donnell went so far as to describe working with Goldberg as being “the worst experience” she had working in television.
“Whoopi Goldberg was as mean as anyone has ever been on television to me, personally — while I was sitting there,” she continued. “Worse than Fox News. The worst experience I’ve ever had on live television was interacting with her.”
“She’s a minority, feminist, smart, funny, groundbreaking legend who is black in America. I’m never going to not have respect for Whoopi Goldberg,” O’Donnell concluded. “But that was a painful experience, personally and professionally.”
Watch O’Donnell talk more about her feud with Goldberg in the video below.
Goldberg Holds A Grudge
It seems that Goldberg has not forgotten O’Donnell’s remarks about working with her.
“The personal relationship has improved tremendously,” a television insider told Naughty But Nice. “But that doesn’t automatically mean Whoopi wants Rosie back at the table.”
Another source explained that Goldberg is still the most influential voice behind the scenes on The View.
“Whoopi has earned enormous respect behind the scenes,” this insider said. “If she were campaigning for Rosie to return, it would happen. The fact that it hasn’t tells you where things stand.”
Another source told fans that while they shouldn’t rule out a future appearance by O’Donnell on The View, they shouldn’t expect it anytime soon.
“Never say never,” that source concluded. “The feud is over. The friendship is improving. But a full View return is still a very different conversation.”
Goldberg And O’Donnell Reunite
Goldberg revealed on a recent episode of The View that she just reunited with O’Donnell, 64, backstage at the Broadway production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. After saying that she “made another trip” to the Broadway show, Goldberg told the audience to “look” at “who I ran into.”
The segment then cut to a photo of Goldberg and O’Donnell together backstage. They were joined by Chasity “Tempress” Moore, who plays Grizabella in Cats: The Jellicle Ball
“Yes, Rosie was there, she looks amazing,” Goldberg gushed. The reunion came days after O’Donnell showed off the results of her recent facelift.
Co-host Sunny Hostin chimed in to ask Goldberg to clarify if O’Donnell was in Ireland, where she announced that she had moved back to escape President Trump back in 2025.
“[O’Donnell] came back,” Goldberg responded. “She has a one-woman show she’s doing, too. She’s got all kinds of great stuff going on, but she looked amazing.”
While it seems like O’Donnell might be making progress, it appears she has quite a ways to go if she fully wants to get back in Goldberg’s good graces. In the end, there is nothing quite like liberal infighting.
Good riddance to you both, Whoopi and Rosie!