A few days ago, we discussed the bitchfight that erupted between Oprah and Rosie O’Donnell after the OWN network dropped Rosie’s show after six disappointing months of declining ratings that were never that good to begin with. Naturally, Rosie took the cancellation personally even though there were a million different ways that she’d acted out towards her staff; she also obviously contributed to her show’s demise by abruptly changing the format and ignoring all advice to the contrary. Of course, it didn’t help that Rosie’s show was scheduled during her target audience’s dinner hour, but we could argue both sides of this issue forever and it wouldn’t change the fact that Oprah made a business call, which was well within her authority to do. As for Rosie? She should’ve realized who was boss when Oprah was photoshopped thinner than her on O Magazine.
Anyway, this week’s issue of the Enquirer provides more details about Rosie’s brief reign of terror and even quicker downfall at Oprah’s employ. It’s not a pretty picture:
Rosie O’Donnell snubbed her boss Oprah Winfrey’s advice on how to improve her talk show, and when she got canned, she told the powerful media mogul to drop dead!
Adding to Oprah’s ire, insiders say an abrasive Rosie turned Oprah’s once-peaceful production office intot he studio from hell by cursing and screaming at her staff.
“Oprah gave Rosie every possible chance to turn things around before she gave her the ax,” a source told The ENQUIRER. “And Rosie didn’t take her firing lightly. She went off on Oprah and told her to “Drop dead!”
Insiders say Oprah told Rosie her big mistake was making the show more about herself. She suggested she talk less about herself and let the guests open up more, the source revealed.
“Rosie refused to listen,” said the source. “It was her way or the highway, and Oprah couldn’t get through to her. Rosie thought she knew it all.”
Even worse was Rosie’s nasty behind-the-scenes behavior, said the source. “Rosie cursed, screamed and berated her staff all the time. No one escaped her wrath. She was always ranting that the people working on her show — many of whom were Oprah’s former employees — were inadequate. As the ratings continued to sink lower, Rosie’s roar got even louder. It was only when several staff members gave notices that Oprah finally became aware of the chaos surrounding Rosie. Oprah has always treated her employees like family, and she expected nothing less from Rosie. Oprah knew she had to do something fast.”
So she called Barbara Walters, Rosie’s former co-host on “The View,” for advice on how to handle the disgruntled talk-show host. “Barbara gave Oprah an earful,” said the insider. “She explained that while Rosie was explosive on the air, most people rarely saw the temper tantrum-throwing and mean-spirited Rosie that she experienced firsthand at “The View.”
Oprah was stunend. she told Barbara that she should have called her before hiring Rosie. Barbara admitted that when she heard Oprah was giving Rosie a talk show that she wanted to reach out, but it was already a done deal. Rosie has some real anger issues,” added the insider. “FIrst she feuded with Donald Trump and Barbara Walters, and now it’s Oprah. It appears her only show business friend right now is Howard Stern!”
[From Enquirer, print edition, April 2, 2012]
Obviously, Oprah really dropped the ball if she didn’t even bother to talk to Barbara about her experience with Rosie before handing the former “Queen of Nice” her own show. Then again, Oprah has been rather desperate from the beginning to see her network succeed, and Rosie was supposed to be the big rainmaker after Oprah’s name didn’t instantaneously do the trick. Like I said before, Oprah was only thinking about business when she fired Rosie, but TMZ reports that Oprah has taken steps to help the 30 staff members who were recently fired from OWN by providing them with “extremely generous” severance packages and providing them with a recruiter to help get them on track to finding new jobs. Oprah didn’t have to do that, and Rosie would’ve never done that.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN
Never thought I would feel sorry for Oprah.
No kidding! I remember reading something about a year ago how Rosie had turned over a new leaf, thanks to hormone replacement therapy. I guess not! LOL
Can’t believe everything you read, especially in this case. The “source” was The National Enquirer. Enough said.
Totally changing sides here. Team Oprah all the way. If the Big O can treat her staff good then she’s a decent chick. WTF is Rosie’s problem? To much PMS hormones all clotted up?
No, she was trying to go for macho and strong, but ended up just being obnoxious and douchy.
This is the funniest bitchfight of the century!!
This may be a bitchfight, but it is one which Rosie will never, ever win. I loved her radio show on Sirius, I’m sorry the OWN show was such a disaster. It sounds like there were missteps all around from the beginning.
I know! I loved her radio show too. Maybe, at this stage of her life, radio is the best thing for her. I hope she goes back to Sirius!! And I SERIOUSLY doubt she told Oprah to her face to drop dead (maybe out of ear shot though….)
Rosie has been in full public melt down mode since flipping out on Tom Selleck. She should spend her new found free time getting her head straight.
Oprah and Rosie both have egos much larger than their actual importance.
AMEN!!!!!
PREACH!
Egomaniacs are difficult to work with. Regardless of who’s side one may be on, such a person doesn’t listen to those brave enough to be honest and when things go pear-shaped they look to lay blame rather than analyse what the real problems are and actually fix it. I don’t have sympathy for either.
Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. Tssk, Tssk, Tssk.
Of course she wouldn’t help her employees. She went out and celebrated instead. Rosie is always looking out for Rosie, and That is always the bottom line.
And Rosie IS crude, obnoxious, has absolutely no sense of empathy towards others, an all around shrew and bully. I think anyone giving Rosie her show, or watching her show, were hoping for the good ol’ Rosie who used to make fun of her crush on Tom Cruise. When she was outspoken, yet funny. Loud, yet still sweet towards others.
That Rosie is gone. The same way the cutesy Tom Cruise mowing Rosie’s lawn (hehe) was replaced by the couch-jumping, CO$ promoting Tom Cruise.
I can totally see Rosie saying that!
She sounds like such a loose cannon. I agree Oprah tried and finally had to call it quits.
Will be interesting to see if Rosie will degrade Oprah in public, like on Howard Stern, he would love that. I hope she doesnt and at least tries to pretend she has some class.
I don’t even know how Rosie O’Donnell has a career.
She has always come across as abrasive and, for the lack of a better term, pseudo-cerebral.
For her to even have a talk show is beyond my comprehension.
How naive is Oprah?
Yawn. Rosie is a great interviewer, and while I believe fighting on the show was going on because it was failing, I don’t believe for one second she ever fought with Oprah or told her to drop dead. Tenseness regarding the show, hell yeah. They made the show worse as they kept stripping it down.
Really? You’ve never heard Rosie’s own accounts of fights she’s had with Barbra W, her producers on her own show, and E Hasselbeck? It’s pretty clear she has an ugly and vicious temper and a mean-streak the size of Nebraska.
I suspect that Oprah is regretting giving up her daily show. And I would not be remotely surprise if she brings it back to daily TV eventually.
I don’t see Oprah sticking out this OWN thing. I wonder what kind of contract Discovery has with her and for how long.
Cause they are losing money like crazy with this adventure with Oprah. And Oprah hates to be a loser.
Rosie did have an incredibly successful talk show on her own before working with Oprah, and she has a unique personality, so I can totally see her thinking “no one knows how to do a Rosie talk show better than me, so back off.” I refuse to believe that Oprah had no idea how temperamental Rosie was before she hired her, and Oprah doesn’t exactly have a reputation as being wonderful to work for herself.
I’m not siding with Rosie, I’m just impressed with how much better Oprah’s PR people are.
Rosie….goodbye career. Or what is left of it
Rosie has serious mental problems. She should probably focus on getting healthy rather than trying to revive her sinking career. She used to be funny, now she is just an angry, mean person.
I don’t believe this. Rosie put out a video discussing why the show was canceled and she does take responsibility for it and she thanks Oprah over and over for giving her a chance.
Wonder what she said after the cameras stopped rolling? It’s called PR. Of course Rosie would put on a show to try to keep a semblance of a career. Truth is, she fights with everyone and when it’s all over she gives them the finger! It’s never a smooth parting of the ways with her. I’ve always heard that Oprah was nice to her staff and treats them well. She did the right thing by dropping the house on the Wicked Witch.
I just feel bad for Rosie’s workers. They are the ones that have major stress. Not to mention anyone who has ever been in a toxic work atmosphere knows how an awful boss can set the entire tone for your day.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Oprah and her holier than you attitude but I’ve to give her respect for treating her employees right.
Donald Trump said it best: “Rosie is disgusting.”
Oprah has an umbrella holder? And then she does a thumbs up under it. Gag.
Oprah was an absolute fool on giving Rosie a show.
It’s true Rosie is a loud mouth and at times temperamental but let us not forget how she would put that b*tch Elizabeth in her place and give us some satisfaction. I’m not saying she’s in the right but both were in it to feed their egos and wallets. I think Oprah thought she had such a huge fan base that they would follow her anywhere. It is very pretentious to think you’re so huge that you need your OWN network and expect eternal TV reign. I guess her fans lost interest when she stopped giving them free expensive stuff
Elizabeth can get on my nerves also, but the big blow up between her and Rosie was caused by Rosie. Rosie said something that was misinterpreted by others (or so she says) and got furious with Elizabeth that she didn’t come to her defense. She expected Elizabeth to do damage control for what she said and when that didn’t happen, she went off the deep end. On air. She tried to heap a ton of guilt onto Elizabeth, accusing her of not being a friend, etc., etc. Elizabeth basically told her she needed to get herself out of trouble when she said things that were controversial or could be misinterpreted. I could see nothing wrong with Elizabeth’s reasoning. It may be the only time I have not had a problem with her reasoning, but in this instance Elizabeth was completely right and Rosie was wrong.
I have usually enjoyed Rosie over the years, but she has a long history of controversial moments with others when they don’t agree with her about any given subject. She can’t seem to agree to disagree. Everything is high drama, so I can see her going off on employees. If she would go off on people while on the air, why wouldn’t she do it behind the scenes?
Rosie gets a bad rap. I listened to her radio show and she was well spoken, maybe occasionally “crude” in a hilarious way and certainly never obnoxious. She had empathy for many people and in some cases their pain made her very sad. I’m not sure why people keep saying these nasty things about her. Why? Because she called out the Donald and Hasslebeck, two incredibly obnoxious people? I do hope she goes back to Sirius but she probably wants to move on to something else now.
She was horrible to her staff-that’s what people are calling her out on.
Rosie does belong on Sirius Radio that I agree with but she isn’t that empathetic. Remember when it came out in court that she wished cancer on her staff for the ‘sin’ of being quiet in a meeting?
Oprah’s show was losing audience long before she moved to her own network. Rosie’s show was staffed by people who are loyal to Oprah (who has an ego as large4 as Donald Trump’s!) and I suggest this is a lot of spin control on Oprah’s part.
Rosie’s show DID become more interesting when it became one on one interviews and I’m thinking Oprah’s ego cannot stand to see her succeed. Oprah has her “friends” who I’m guessing really flatter her ego (Dr. Phil Gayle King) and I can only see Rosie being a straight shooter.
We have seen how vindictive and conniving Barbara Walters is so if you judge people by the people who don’t like them I think Rosie is doing fine!
Yes, I saw Rosie’s one on one interview with Chelsea Handler and thought it was really good. Also liked a long interview someone did with Rosie herself (some guy with three names?). She is definitely interesting as well as a decent interviewer. . Maybe the audience-free one on one format just needed more time to find an audience. Not everybody wants to see a clapping audience all the time. That format worked for Larry King… But maybe Oprah’s network was’t the right place for it. Her fans might expect the traditional format.
can’t oprah hold her own umbrella. ugh. she needs to go away.
I don’t believe one word of this article. It states that Oprah regrets not speaking to B. Walters before hiring Rosie and even Barbara wanted to reach out to “O” but Rosie had already been hired.
Don’t you remember folks? In early 2009, long before Oprah even thought about hiring Rosie, Barbara made an appearance on The Oprah Show and spoke on air about Rosie’s anger issues and outbursts while at the View. I have no doubt Oprah had a chance to get all the details off camera.
The National Enquirer is used as the primary source for the information. Enough said.
She is…and always has been…nothing but a fat, disgusting, self-centered vile person. Doesn’t surprise me at all. I knew people who worked as her underlings years ago and told me about the way she treated people.
Karma’s a bitch. In this case, a BIG one!
Team Donald Trump and Oprah and Barbara Walters! Rosie has a nasty attitude and she’s very unprofessional. She’s either a narcissist or someone who didn’t get very much attention as a child so she’s making up for it by thinking everyone should focus on her. Bad attitude = a dead end career. I feel sorry for her fiance.. if Rosie wasn’t famous and rich, that woman would have left her a long time ago.
btw, I’m tired of Oprah too. Didn’t she say that she was going to retire? Why is she still in the limelight, interviewing people, i.e. Bobbi Kristina? omg, take a permanent vacation Opie and go heal the world with your money.
Agree with you on the Team Oprah, but after Donald Trump Junior gloated so much over killing an elephant (with a gun, brave isn’t he?) I will never be Team Trump.
Even I could see this had disaster written all over it from the get go. I couldn’t imagine what Oprah was thinking when she brought Rosie aboard. I’m not the least bit surprised it’s blown up…it was only a matter of time.
I like Oprah’s tan bag, in that last picture….
i don’t believe a word of this
Updated: Rosie’s response on twitter to reports she told Oprah to “drop dead”:
– “please – y would i – DT – parhaps – O never!”
Thanks for using the quote I posted on TWoP, didn’t have to bother adding it here myself.
I don’t believe any of this….it’s a GOSSIP magazine!
Bye bye Rosie. Never thought in a million years I’d agree with anything Trump has to say but I think he’s right – she’s dunzo.
Rosie destroys everything she touches. McCall’s magazine was a beautiful thing until Rosie got involved. What about that play with Boy George which was supposed to run on Broadway? Destroyed. On her original television program she always intruded herself into the music segments at the end. She has always struck me as mean and nasty, blaming others for what a miserable person she is.
Acknowledging TABOO is way outside decorum these days. It is not discussed.
man #1: hello there young fellow and what do you do for a living?
man #2: I hold an umbrella for Oprah.
hahahahahaha
I despise Rosie! She gave me cunty wunty vibe back when she was on VH1; yeah I am that old and freakin proud. That is why I can complain. She had a run and cannot let it go. It’s as bad as Jen Aniston with her holding on to her Racheal Green days.
And no, I am not team Angelina; she seduced a married man and he fell for it; both to blame and moving on. But I digress, holding on to the past will never make your future go forward because the emergency break is still on.
A few times Rosie’s made some fairly eloquent comments, but she also strikes me as a very angry person. There’s really no excuse for treating your staff like crap.
Donald Trump is a five star douchebag but he may be right about Rosie after all.
Oprah’s just overrated and generic.
I think all of you guys are being a bit too tough on Rosie.
She is not cookie cutter showbiz persona.
So what? That’s what makes her more interesting.
I thought she would do better, and it’s a shame there’s no TV show with her nowadays,, because she brings something different and I like it.
Oprah is not perfect and could have given her more chances. I love Barabara, but it was obvious she would not say anything nice about Rosie, so why bother talk to her?
I don’t know, most people only get three months probation at a new job.
“Oprah was stunend”
I’m done. XD