Barbara Walters Responds To Star Jones' Comments Over Her Memoir

By Access HollywoodMay 8, 2008, 1:09 pm PDT

NEW YORK, NY -- Earlier this week, Star Jones took aim at Barbara Walters for the things the veteran journalist wrote about her in the book, "Audition." And now, Barbara has responded.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, in her memoir, Barbara claims Star made her lie about her gastric bypass surgery during their time on "The View" together. Barbara also opened for the first time about an affair she had with then-married African-American Senator Edward Brooke in the '70s.

[ All Access: Barbara Walters, Part I - Play it Now ]

"It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book," Star told Us Weekly exclusively. "It speaks to her true character."

Now Barbara herself has responded.

[ 'The View' - Check Out the Photos ]

"I wouldn't dignify this with a comment," "The View" kingpin said.

This isn't the first feud between the former co-workers.

[ All Access: The View - TV One - TV - Celebrities ]

Things got painful between the two women, according to Barbara, after Star and "The View" producers agreed to announce Star's departure from the show on June 29, 2006.

"On June 27, to my amazement, we're sitting like this," Barbara said at the time, painting a picture for the audience. Star herself made the announcement

[ Gil Cates Talks Whoopi's Oscar Omission - Play it Now ]

"I will not be returning as co-host next year," Star said.

The early news came as a shock to Barbara.

"Well, I thought she was just telling people two days earlier, so I got up and I said let's everybody give her a standing ovation," Barbara recalled. "And suddenly I see Bill Geddie, my co-executive producer, I think he's going to burst a blood vessel. "

Star had given an interview prior to the announcement, one which inflamed tensions on the set.

"Over the weekend, Star had done an interview with People magazine which was coming out that day in which she said it wasn't my bad ratings, I was fired. Bill Geddie and Barbara have lied," Barbara said. "I was so furious with her. 'I thought, I didn't do this to her, she did this to herself, she could have left with any kind of grace.'"

Today, the women of "The View" determined the Star Jones/Barbara Walters feud was not a "Hot Topic," as it never came up.

comments

comments 1-10 of 263  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • Classic
    I thought it was amazingly interesting to see BW bested 'by someone'. it was a cool move, nice to shake up Bill and BW for a change.
    report abuseposted July 13, 2008, 5:32 am PDT
  • Tamara
    You're all low lives. If Star Jones had come out with a memoir claiming she had an affair with a married man, she would have been given a hard time as a black woman but because a white woman had an affair you lot don't see any wrong in that. Barbara W. is a whore and a cheater and an adulterer. She cheated with a married man and had the audacity to write about it. She is a fake ass
    report abuseposted June 18, 2008, 8:39 am PDT
  • Lis G
    I also am perplexed about Walter's memoir and why the need to tell all, but then I have not felt the need to purchase nor much less read it. I have always admired Walter's, but seeing her on the view and now hearing about her memoir, makes me feel so sad for her and for myself. I feel I never did know the real Barbara Walter's. Perhaps I am wrong and hopefully I am. I
    report abuseposted June 14, 2008, 8:47 am PDT
  • ministerzel
    I agree with Starr's statement. Barbara Walters - once a talented journalist - has written a book that hurts a lot of folks to make sales. One day she will look back and wonder why she did this. It's not worth the money to thrash others. Selling your soul is a sad act that reaps few rewards.
    report abuseposted June 14, 2008, 3:26 am PDT
  • Bertha G
    when one is termed as classy,it does not only mean being a fashion icon ,or a jet setter.Breeding counts and very much so. This goes to both women
    report abuseposted May 27, 2008, 5:00 pm PDT
  • Keeping it real
    Star never met a dessert cart she didn't adore...salaciously!! She stapled her fat belly to get slim so that a man might actually WANT to slip it to her. Now she looks more like ET (the Extraterrestril)!!
    report abuseposted May 11, 2008, 7:30 pm PDT
  • Keeping it real
    Star never met a dessert cart she didn't adore...salaciously!! She stapled her fat belly to get slim so that a man might actually WANT to slip it to her. Now she looks more like ET (the Extraterrestril)!!
    report abuseposted May 11, 2008, 7:30 pm PDT
  • 24-7
    Starr Jones exploited herself on national television just to get sponsers to pay for her wedding and then gets upset because she says her personal life is private. Brooke talked with BW before her book was published and was alright with it. This feud is just another ploy of Starrs to get attention. I say...Go sell some more payless honey..you had your 15 mins of fame!
    report abuseposted May 10, 2008, 8:33 am PDT
  • no fan
    Barbara Walters should have kept her mouth shout about the past
    report abuseposted May 10, 2008, 6:13 am PDT
  • Ollie
    This blog seems to be selective. I posted a couple of comments not long ago, nothing censorable - and I wanted to check to see exactly what I've said, and they've disappeared. How sad.
    report abuseposted May 9, 2008, 11:01 pm PDT
comments 1-10 of 263  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

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