Elisabeth Hasselbeck, 'View' Exit Rumors, Getting Fired or Leaving To 'Freshen' The Show? (VIDEO)
A week after Barbara Walters slammed rumors that her View co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck is not returning to ABC's hit daytime show, an insider said the former Survivor star's "days are numbered" because her likeability has gone south.
"ABC is desperate to freshen the show," an insider told New York Post's Page Six. "Ratings are going soft, and research numbers on the stars' likability are scaring network execs."
The source also revealed that the network fired Joy Behar, which contradicts the 70-year-old's announcement on March 7 that she was not returning on her own accord.
"After giving Behar the bad news last week and letting her bow out gracefully, someone leaked the Hasselbeck thing," the insider added. "Some enemies she has on the show saw their chance to get back at her. Barbara was spitting mad that it got mishandled, and called off the firing over [last] weekend."
The show was trying to "save face" by leaving the door open for Hasselbeck to announce that she will be "leaving on her own." The source said executives don't want to make her look bad and don't want to make the show look bad for firing the co-host.
Us Weekly reported on March 8 that Hasselbeck would follow Behar's footsteps and not return next season because the show's audience found her views too "right wing and extreme." People reportedly did not watch the show because of Hasselbeck and executives told her her contract would not be renewed, the insider told the magazine.
On March 11, Walters said on camera during taping for the show that ABC has "no plans for Elisabeth to leave the show."
"The truth is, we love Elisabeth...Beyond that, we value and appreciate her point of view," Walters said on The View. "It's important to us because Elisabeth helps give this show perspective and balance. [Executive producer] Bill [Geddie] and I have always said that when one of you makes the choice to leave, that is your choice, and we will support your decision."
Watch the video clip below to see Hasselbeck disagree with Melissa Etheridge over gay marriage on The View.
