Report: Kathy Griffin Says Rosie Left ‘View’ Over Split-Screen

ATLANTIC CITY, NY (May 27, 2007) — “My Life on the D-List” comedienne Kathy Griffin says the use of a split-screen during the aired fight between Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on “The View” Wednesday is what ultimately sparked Rosie’s decision to leave the show earlier than planned, Griffin, who guest-hosted on “The View” the day after the incident, reportedly told the crowd attending her stand-up act at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, last night that Rosie had called her on Friday and invited her to “hang out.” “I spent the whole day with Rosie!,” Griffin reportedly said. “How about that!?’”She said that Rosie took her to watch to watch Cyndi Lauper rehearse for her upcoming “True Colors” tour, and then the three women reportedly went to dinner in Manhattan together.“The mojitos were flying,” Griffin reportedly said (noting that she doesn’t drink, and stuck with Diet Pepsi).

Griffin has guest-hosted twice in the past two weeks, and reportedly said in her routine, “I was there before, and after the whole split-screen, Hannity and Colmes s—.” (editor’s note: “Hannity & Colmes” is a political debate show on the Fox News Channel that often makes use of the split-screen technique when debates occur.)According to the report, Griffin said the conversation with Rosie turned to the subject of the split-screen. Said Griffin: “And that’s what it was. I said, ‘What was really it?’ And Rosie replied, ‘The split-screen.’ She said, ‘I don’t want to do Hannity and Colmes.’”Griffin also reportedly riffed on Donald Trump referring to Hasselbeck as “stupid” when he spoke of the argument in a televised interview, and revealed that Rosie reacted to Trump’s name-calling with “Awww. that’s sad.” Griffin was quoted as saying, “So, [Rosie] doesn’t even hate Elisabeth.”It was announced Friday that O’Donnell asked for, and received, an early exit from her contract. She was due to leave “The View” in mid-June.

“Rosie contributed to one of our most exciting and successful years at `The View,’” show creator Barbara Walters said. “I am most appreciative. Our close and affectionate relationship will not change.”

In a statement, O’Donnell said she was grateful: “It’s been an amazing year and I love all three women.”In an Access Hollywood interview with Griffin last month, she spoke of Rosie’s pending “View” departure: “I am so looking forward to co-hosting ‘The View’ because I love Rosie, and I’m really disappointed that she’s leaving. You know, she really infused life into that show, and she brought something to that show that made it relevant again. She really brought something special, so I hope they find somebody good [to replace her].”

And what of the rumors that Griffin herself may be considered as a potential replacement?

“Oh, I would to do it, it’s a blast,” she exclaimed. “I love those girls, it’s a very fun show to do, and you know it would be a huge change for my life of course, but it would be a blast.”

She added, “I might be on the ‘C list’ if I do that show.”