Did The View's Beverly Johnson Interview Drive a Wedge Between Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O'Donnell?

Co-hosts have been seen butting heads over the Bill Cosby rape allegations

By Alyssa Toomey Dec 18, 2014 1:19 AMTags
Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, The ViewFred Lee/ABC

It's no secret that The View has experienced its fair share of feud rumors (some with more truth than others). 

The reports, which have repeatedly plagued the show, resurfaced online this week after model Beverly Johnson, who recently came forward alleging Bill Cosby drugged her in the 1980s, appeared on the show on Monday, causing tabloids to speculate that Rosie O'Donnell is butting heads with co-host Whoopi Goldberg

So what happened?! Well, before we get to the back and forth, let us clarify that the latest round of rumors is completely false. 

VIDEO: Whoopi Goldberg calls The View feud rumors sexist 

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Johnson recounted her story during her appearance on the ABC talk show less than one week after she detailed the alleged incident to Vanity Fair. Subject matter aside, her interview was also noteworthy since viewers have watched the co-hosts engage in a heated debate over the Cosby rape allegations, with Whoopi defending the comedian (he even thanked her on Twitter for her support) while O'Donnell has seemingly suggested that she thinks the comedian is guilty of the alleged crimes. 

According to the Mail Online, Johnson agreed to do the interview, but only if she could have a one-on-one with Whoopi. "Producers were willing to do whatever Beverly wanted to get her on the show and agreed to cut out Rosie as well as other co-hosts Rosie Perez and Nicolle Wallace," a source told the publication. "That infuriated Rosie." 

The report went on to claim that O'Donnell told producers she "would not stand for that," causing her to file a complaint with ABC News, which led producers to nix the one-on-one interview. 

What's more? The fabricated report even says that O'Donnell was the only castmember from the show who was not invited to Whoopi's holiday party—a claim, among others, that Rosie's rep had no trouble shutting down. 

ABC/Lou Rocco

Slamming the feud reports as "inaccurate" and down-right "infuriating," Rosie rep tells E! News, "Beverly Johnson had already done several one-on-one media appearances and the flow of The View is to have a group dynamic. As for Whoopi's party, Rosie was absolutely invited with her family but her baby daughter, Dakota, had the croup and a fever early that morning." 

While there's no merit to the recent reports, this isn't the first time drama has surrounded the ABC show. Earlier this monthTMZ claimed that O'Donnell isn't getting along with Goldberg and has been "rude to [other] members of the cast and crew, both on and off camera."

However, Rosie's publicist was quick to fire back at that tabloid talk, too. "There is absolutely no truth to this," O'Donnell's publicist told E! News. "Rosie was thrilled and excited to work with Whoopi and knew Whoopi's role as moderator before she re-joined the show!!!"

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