Barbara Walters Denies that Elisabeth Hasselbeck is Leaving ‘The View’

Despite various media reports, Barbara Walters asserts that her co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck will not be leaving ABC’s “The View” after its current season ends in August. “There is a particularly false story that keeps getting picked up about Elisabeth’s alleged departure, saying that we don’t approve of her conservative views,” the 83-year-old journalist revealed during Monday’s program. “The truth is we love Elisabeth. I like her personally and she’s just a wonderful person.”

Hasselbeck joined the daytime talk show in 2003 and often butted heads with former co-host and liberal Rosie O’Donnell. “We value and appreciate her point of view, it’s important to us because Elisabeth helps give the show perspective and balance,” Walters added. “So we have no plans for Elisabeth to leave.”