Elisabeth Hasselbeck Speaks Out About Rosie Fight
Elisabeth Hasselbeck wants fans to know that she and Rosie O’Donnell are still friends after their on-air fight on Wednesday’s View.
“I am fine,” Hasselbeck, 29, tells TV’s Extra. “We are used to debating things there. You have women who care a lot about things.”
Despite the harsh words exchanged, there’s no lingering resentment, she says: “The best thing about today is that there’s no slow boil, none. It’s there, it’s an issue, it’s dealt with and it’s over. If there are tensions, [and] obviously there was, it’s dealt with in the moment.”
Hasselbeck has always said she’s friends with O’Donnell when the cameras aren’t rolling, and she tells Extra that’s still true. “We’ve invested a lot into our friendship,” she says. “We also have a lot of passion. The best thing about us is that we are honest and deal with things up front.”
She says she’s optimistic that she and O’Donnell, who have often argued over politics and, in particular, the Iraq war, will be able to resolve their differences. “I honestly think, I believe that we are mature women who can resolve,” she says. “I hope we can. I would hope that a disagreement or a heated debate wouldn’t be the end of a relationship. … They take work. I’m hoping that can happen here too. I don’t think that is impossible at all.”
Asked what it will be like going to work on Thursday, Hasselbeck says, “It’ll be a little awkward, I’m sure. Whenever we have a heated debate, the next day is awkward. I bet we’ll talk about some fun things.”
Meanwhile, O’Donnell has also spoken out about the confrontation, in her own unique way. On her blog Wednesday afternoon, she wrote in her signature haiku style, under the headline “cease fire”:
a split screen
new heights
or lows
depending on who u ask
And perhaps Hasselbeck doesn’t have to worry about awkwardness at the office on Thursday. O’Donnell concludes: “tomorrow kelli turns 40/ i will not be at work.”
May 24th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I have always been a fan of Rosie’s…and I still am. BUT, when she fights with EH, a very ANGRY person comes out. I respect both views and have my own. But I don’t want to cut someone down and belittle them just because they don’t believe what I believe. I think Rosie needs to calm down and bite her tongue.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:19 am
I think things are out of hand on that show. Bullying personalities like RO like to overtalk all other opinions and EH finally stood up to RO. I blame BW and the producers for allowing the politically charged climate to escalate to nothing better than the Jerry Springer Show with a better wardrobe. The producer should have gone to commercial when it was clear that both RO and EH were in agony but instead, they took the “low” road and did a split screen of RO & EH….all for ratings. I have little respect for any of the people involved and will have better things to do with my time than to watch “The View”.