Rosie O’Donnell has sent “The View” alumni into a tailspin over missing invitations that didn’t exist in the first place.
O’Donnell made headlines this week after announcing on a podcast that she had been asked to return to the hit ABC show, in some capacity, for the upcoming 30th anniversary and stating “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think.”
While O’Donnell’s rep almost immediately walked back the news, telling E! “There was a mention of inviting some of the hosts back to ‘The View’ as a guest during season 30, there has not been a formal ask from the show at this time.”
However, the damage had been done.
Page Six is hearing that some past hosts felt snubbed when they heard the initial news and felt slighted over the perceived snub.
Former host Michelle Collins was so offended that she even took to Instagram to state she didn’t get the invite.
Following her post, she tells us, there was a silver lining to the misunderstanding.
“The reaction has been so overwhelmingly positive. And I’ll always be indebted to ”The View,’ but I’m down 60 lbs and finally over my PVSD (Post Viewmatic Stress Syndrome) so would be great to say hi,” the comedian told us over two glasses of wine from Lake Como, Italy, where she’s unwinding before her upcoming New York and LA shows of “Wait, Why Don’t I Know You?”
Collins also revealed she was about to meet up with the show’s grande dame Whoopi Goldberg and her family.
“Who I love, so all bridges have not been burned!” she said.
Collins, who appeared during the show’s 19th season, seemed hurt at the thought of not being included.
“When I got unceremoniously let go from the show, I never talked s–t, never went public with anything because I thought that was professional,” she said in an Instagram video on Monday. “But now I’m starting to think maybe that was dumb. Maybe I should have because all those other people are being asked back.”
O’Donnell’s comments have also fueled speculation that outreach to former panelists is already underway and about who will be asked to participate in the upcoming celebrations.
Before O’Donnell’s rep walked back the claim, a source told Page Six that Meghan McCain — who has repeatedly blasted the daytime talk show as “toxic” following her exit — had not been invited to participate.
The show’s Executive Producer, Brian Teta, appeared to try and calm everyone down, posting on X on Tuesday evening: “We love seeing all the excitement about The View’s 30th, lots of plans are in the works, but no invites have gone out.”
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