Donna Svennevik/ABCThe end is nigh.
Sherri Shepherd got emotional on The View Monday. In the show's first live episode since the co-host announced her impending exit, Shepherd broke down in tears at the beginning of the hour. "It is true that I'm leaving The View," she said. "Some people have known since the spring that I was leaving."
According to Shepherd, she kept the news private out of respect for her former colleague. "I didn't want to do anything to distract from Barbara Walters and our celebration of her retirement in May," she said. "You guys know that I often talk about my faith. I'm a woman of faith and seven in the Bible is the number of God's completion. And I've been here seven years, and my time at The View is complete."
Shepherd, 47, asked if she could read from a teleprompter in case her emotions became overwhelming.
"I'm gonna forever be grateful to Barbara Walters and [executive producer] Bill Geddie for taking a chance on an actress and a comedienne and making me learn things and making me step out of my comfort zone, for giving me a chance. When everybody said I shouldn't be at this table, they gave me a chance," she said. "I wanna say I've made friendships and sisterhood for life at this table. Elisabeth Hasselbeck is my sister for life. Joy Behar is my sister for life." Turning to Jenny McCarthy, who is also leaving The View, Shepherd said, "You are my sister."
"You my friend have been a mentor to me. I love you so much, Whoopi Goldberg, because Whoopi Goldberg has had my back," she added. "Even when I didn't appreciate it, she's always had my back."
Shepherd, who is in the midst of a divorce, then recounted some of her favorite memories of The View.
"I've been blessed to interview President Barack Obama. Bill Clinton is a big fan of mine. He loved that I played a hooker in One for the Money. I get the chance to call Oprah Winfrey a friend, and that is a long way from being a legal secretary who wanted to tell jokes for a living. So, I have exciting news I will be announcing in the future because I love the show I plan on coming back to promote them here. I say that because Barbara Walters taught us all about the art of promoting," she added. "I do say to everybody, take a chance, step out, do something that makes you scared, because this scared me to do The View. I love the cast and crew who took me in and made me feel like, this is my family. I love you."
Prior to Shepherd's teary message, McCarthy joked about their departures. "All those rumors about how Sherri and I are leaving are not true!" the Playboy model and author said with a laugh. "We are staying!"
"Actually, it is true," she admitted. "But I love the support. Let me tell you what's going on. So grateful to have worked with Barbara Walters in her last year, as well as many producers and co-hosts, and after much consideration, I've taken a new job that will allow me to do what I do best. Which is talk without having to interrupt anyone. I will be announcing it in the next few weeks and I couldn't be more grateful for the fans like you guys who supported us so stay tuned...even if it does compete with The View."