Elisabeth Hasselbeck nearly quit 'The View' after fight with Barbara Walters over morning-after pill, book claims

The book Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View makes it clear that there has been a lot of drama behind the scenes on the long-running ABC daytime show. It includes an explosive showdown between Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Barbara Walters.

According to the New York Post’s Page Six, which obtained a copy of the book, Hasselbeck threatened to quit the show in 2006 after Walters talked over her dismissively during a heated on-air discussion about the morning-after pill. Hasselbeck, the conservative voice on the show at the time, told fellow co-host Joy Behar that Walters could read about her departure in the press, according to audio heard by author Ramin Setoodeh.

What apparently sparked the matter was Hasselbeck saying during a segment, “I believe that life begins at the moment of conception.” However, she was apparently cut off by show head Walters. During a commercial break, Hasselbeck, stormed off and was reportedly heard on audio telling Behar, “What the f ***! I don’t even swear. She has me swearing. This woman is driving me nuts. I’m not going back. I can’t do the show like this. She just reprimanded me, and she knew exactly what she was doing. Goodbye! I’m off. Read about that in the New York f ****ing Post!”

Hasselbeck then reportedly told former executive producer Bill Geddie, “I’m quitting. I don’t need to be reprimanded on the air like that by this woman.” Adding, “I will take it in the meeting. I will not take that on the air. I’m leaving.”

She was apparently talked into staying, but left for good in 2013. In stories around her departure from The View, her “moment of conception” quote was noted, including in a Los Angeles Times piece titled “Was Elisabeth Hasselbeck ‘too right-wing’ for The View?”

Hasselbeck, who appeared on Fox & Friends for two years after The View, “turned down ABC’s request” to do a reunion show with Walters in 2016, according to the new book. However, Tuesday she’ll be returning — and Meghan McCain can’t wait.

On Monday, quotes Rosie O’Donnell gave in the book made headlines. She talked about having “a little bit of a crush” on Hasselbeck, despite their differing political views. However, she added that “ it was in no way sexualized.”

The View book is filled with lots of dirt, including Jenny McCarthy saying she was “miserable” during her tenure as a co-host. She also compared Walters to Mommie Dearest.

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