Speculation On Rosie O'Donnell Leaving the View Grows

It's official, Rosie O'Donnell has left The View, and doing so earlier than when she had previously announced she would. Roughly two weeks ago, Rosie O'Donnell announced that she would be leaving The View in a months time. Many rumors flew as to the reasoning for this. Immediately, the rumors flew that ABC had had enough and that Rosie had been fired from the show. Half of those watching The View, ratings or not would be jumping for joy if that were the case. However in a statement from ABC last Friday, they said that Rosie had asked for an early exit from her remaining time on her contract, and it was granted to her. Perhaps ABC allowed Rosie to save face, and gave her "the ultimatum," voluntarily leave with a public statement from us to go along with that, or get canned from the show. Either way she's gone from the show, now.

With all of the controversy surrounding the outspoken Rosie O'Donnell, what was the real reason for her departure, possible ultimatum or not? Some said it was because of the on-air shouting match she and Elizabeth Hasslebeck, wife of quarterback Matt Hasslebeck. You may recall the two erupted into a shouting match over none other than politics. Rosie O'Donnell is a Democrat, while Elizabeth Hasslebeck is a Republican. The two have been at odds with each other almost from the moment Rosie O'Donnell joined the panel of women. And since that on-air debacle, which by the way, had studio audience members at the time quite uncomfortable at the time, the two never could quite get back to a level of civility without it being painfully obvious that each was gritting her own teeth, and holding back the anger for each other that had finally come to a head that fateful morning.

The View, including the controversial Rosie O'Donnell

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