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Lisa Ling is setting the file straight on Barbara Walters‘ departure from The View.
As you realize, the legendary journalist handed away in December of final yr, abandoning an unbelievable TV legacy. She began her profession at NBC in 1953 earlier than she moved to ABC within the 70s. She grew to become one of many world’s pre-eminent interviewers. And in spite of everything 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 not less than that’s what we have been instructed — in accordance with a former co-host the story is just a little bit totally different.
Related: Liam Neeson ‘Uncomfortable’ With Joy Behar On The View
In an interview with The Cut final month, Lisa Ling recalled a dialog she had with Barbara in 2014 throughout filming of her final episode of the discuss present. According to the 49-year-old journalist, she leaned over to Barbara throughout a business break and stated:
“Barbara, in a couple of 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 quit.”
What??
The This Is Life host stated she’d “never shared this with anyone” — and we will see why! It would’ve undoubtedly triggered an enormous stir within the media on the time. Heck, it’s stunning as hell now! But after the information legend’s passing, we guess she feels extra snug being open?
Barbara actually didn’t. She performed together with the community’s story — throughout the identical episode she maintained she was “looking forward” to retiring:
“I’m looking forward to not having a schedule. I’ve always had a schedule. I’m not sure I’d know what it would be like.”
Was this a lie? Did she actually need to keep and ABC wasn’t letting her? Hmm…
Before her retirement in 2013, she spoke to The Los Angeles Times and stated she didn’t need to work on every other present:
“I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I want to instead sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women — and OK, some men too — who will be taking my place.”
But did she imply she didn’t need 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, challenging, fascinating and occasionally bumpy ride and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s my decision, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and this is what I want to do.”
It looks as if after her retirement she determined to stay to the narrative that it was her choice — however beforehand, in accordance with 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 possibly her declining well being? Variety reported shortly after her demise in 2022 that she’d been affected by important reminiscence loss:
“Barbara would have never retired from TV if she could have stayed on forever. But as she got into her late 80s, her health deteriorated.”
What do U assume, Perezcious readers? Do you consider Barbara was defending the community in her ultimate years? Did they do her soiled in spite of everything she gave them?? Let us know within the feedback (beneath).
[Image via The View/YouTube/Lisa Ling/Instagram]