Rosie O'Donnell reveals why she was not present for tribute to late Barbara Walters on 'The View'

Earlier, Rosie O'Donnell's reps said that she was unable to attend due to 'scheduling conflicts'

PUBLISHED JAN 4, 2023

Rosie O'Donnell revealed the real reason why she did not attend the tribute to Barbara Walters on 'The View' (Dimitrios Kambouris/Toby Canham/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rosie O'Donnell reportedly revealed the reason behind missing the moving tribute to the late Barbara Walters on 'The View' on Tuesday, January 3. O'Donnell took to Instagram to clarify that there was a more personal reason she could not attend, despite her representatives having earlier told certain sources that her absence was due to scheduling conflicts.

"She was flying back and unable to attend," O'Donnell's reps told Page Six, adding, "She has posted wonderful memories of her relationship with Barbara." Later on, O'Donnell said in an Instagram video, "They invited me but I wasn't able to make it. And I didn't want to be in a big group of people. I don't know, I was worried I would get upset and I didn't want to do that. So, there you go."

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Walters, a legendary television journalist, died at the age of 93 on December 30, 2022. She was reportedly suffering from advanced dementia and stayed in bed, failing to recognize her loved ones during her final days. She was quietly fighting a private health battle before her death in her NYC home. Tuesday's broadcast of 'The View' featured an homage to Walters, referring to her as "the woman who changed the way the world watches daytime TV." Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and the other hosts all were present to pay their respects to the legend.

"It's her vision, her passion, her show, and today, 'The View' remembers Barbara Walters," the intro concluded before Goldberg and Behar took the stage alongside co-hosts Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin. Behar began by saying, "People have been talking about her on all of the shows, but we knew her better than anyone, I think."

Immediately after her death, O'Donnell paid tribute to the iconic journalist by saying, "What a long and eventful legendary life she had. I was lucky enough to be in her orbit for a good many years and we saw a lot of Broadway shows together."

"May she rest in peace and may everyone remember just what barriers she broke down for women. She really did. She was the first and will always be remembered," added O'Donnell.