Rosie O’Donnell is leaving the ABC daytime talk show The View.
This is not the first time she’s threatened to leave. This time, however, the network is taking her more seriously.
ABC released a statement confirming her withdrawal from the talk show:
“Rosie is an immensely talented star who comes in each and every morning brimming with ideas, excitement and passion for the show. When she told us she wanted to exit ‘The View,’ we respected and understood her desire to put her well-being and her family first. We’re delighted she’s still part of the ABC family with upcoming guest appearances on ‘The Fosters,’ and we know she’ll return to ‘The View’ often with her unique point of view and updates on her work and her family.”
The co-host had reportedly decided to part ways with the program to focus on her family after divorcing her second wife, Michelle Rounds, whom she married back in 2012.
USA Today explains,
“Rosie O’Donnell is calling it quits from ABC’s The View, again, blaming her departure on a split with her second wife, Michelle Rounds, last November. Her spokeswoman, Cindi Berger, and ABC said O’Donnell will leave the show sometime next week, confirming a report in the New York Post.
“‘Rosie has teens and an infant at home that need her attention,’ Berger said in a statement. ‘This has been a very stressful situation. She is putting her personal health and family first.’”
O’Donnell and her second wife Rounds adopted a baby girl together in 2013. They split in November 2014.
The comedian and TV personality also has four older children.
According to Variety, family troubles were not the exclusive reason for O'Donnell's decision to leave. Tensions with fellow co-hosts and behind-the-scenes turmoil with executive producers also factored into the equation.
"O’Donnell, who has a reputation as a demanding and sometimes abrasive boss, didn’t feel like her strengths were being properly used by ABC, according to those close to the 52-year-old comedian. Compounding the problem were tensions with co-host Whoopi Goldberg and behind-the-scenes executive turmoil at 'The View,' which recently shifted to management under ABC News."
It's safe to say Whoopi Goldberg won't be the only one relieved by O'Donnell's exit.