DUH! Gee, ya think? It seems the youngest member of “The View” is finally speaking out about her current relationship with former co-host Rosie O’Donnell.
In her first sit down interview since the much publicized on-air shouting match between herself and O’Donnell (the one that eventually led to the outspoken comedian’s abrupt departure from the daytime chatfest), Hasselbeck told TV’s “Access Hollywood” that she is now unsure if she can call O’Donnell a friend. This new revelation comes weeks after the 30-year-old former “Survivor” contestant repeatedly denied that the on-air spat caused a rift between her and O’Donnell.
Now it seems Hasselbeck may be working through her own denial:
“Truthfully, I think a friend is someone who you have positive communications with, so I don’t know if I would define us as friends right now,” Hasselbeck said.
She then added: “I did define us as friends, but I’m not going to make the leap to assume that we will or will not be friends in the future.”
Earth to Elisabeth: even if you don’t read the tabloids or watch the national news (yes, they too can sheepishly admit they covered O’Donnell’s departure) you would know that in no way did O’Donnell consider you a friend.
In the weeks that followed the on-air name calling O’Donnell frequently referred to her relationship with Hasselbeck. In one of her blog posts, O’Donnell wrote: “I never tried harder to be friends with someone…I don’t think we ended up there.”
But Hasselbeck told “Access Hollywood” that she does not really read O’Donnell’s blog – and that the post was unexpected news. “She sent me two emails right after that and I sent her one back,” she says. “It was a really great email, so hearing these things after really surprises me.”
I must admit I did wonder what Hasselbeck’s reaction would be regarding O’Donnell’s remarks. Frankly, I’m surprised she’s surprised. I don’t think it takes a genius to figure out that O’Donnell has no tolerance for people who don’t tolerate her… or her musings. I have never met O’Donnell in person, but I don’t think you have to know her very well to recognize how livid she was that the conservative Hasselbeck didn’t publicly stand up for her when she was being berated in the media for her political comments.
The fact that Hasselbeck has maintained (for weeks now) that she and O’Donnell were working through their problems makes me wonder just how well the pregnant co-host really knew her “good friend” Rosie.