04 January 2023 , 23:07
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Rosie O'Donnell detailed why she didn't attend ABC programme The View's tribute show to the late Barbara Walters, explaining she was "worried" about "getting upset".
The talk show alum, 60, wasn't part of the panel on the US network's tribute edition following Barbara's tragic death aged 93 last week.
After creating a TikTok video in response to the upsetting news, fans began to ask Rosie why she didn’t attend the memorial programme.
Despite being invited, the comedian and TV producer said she "didn't want to be in a big group of people" and feared her emotions would get the better of her.
Rosie feared she would get upset at the memorial (Bruce Glikas/WireImage)Replying to one follower she explained: "Yeah, they invited me, but I wasn't able to make it."
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She added: "You know, I didn't want to be in a big group of people. I don't know, I was worried that I would get upset and didn't want to do that, so there you go."
Barbara was remembered by her fellow co-stars on Tuesday during The View in the show's first episode since her death last week.
The American broadcaster died last Friday at her home in New York at the age of 93, eight years on from stepping down from the hit-ABC show.
Barbara created The View back in 1997 and appeared on it until 2014. Her colleagues came together on Tuesday to pay tribute to Barbara, who they described as "the original role model".
Barbara's tragically passed away aged 93 last week (SplashNews.com)
She created The View in 1997 and appeared on it until 2014 (Getty Images)"Tributes are pouring in from around the world to celebrate Barbara Walters and today we're remembering our friend and colleague," Whoopi Goldberg said.
She added: "If not for her, I don't know where most of us would be."
Joy Behar then said: "It's true. We knew her better than anyone I think. She very much defied sexism and she defied ageism, she went right into the jaws of the lion.
"She started The View when she was 68 years old. Very few people start a new career at that age.
"She was the original role model to everybody else. She was one of a kind and really important to the industry."
Barbara's career spanned decades and broke barriers for women in journalism (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)Sunny Hostin then thanked Barbara for her "generosity" in giving out career advice.
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"She started helping me and I thought, my goodness, the generosity of that moment.
"She validated my opinion and after that day she would ask me during the Hot Topics meeting, 'What do you think, Sunny?' I was like, 'Barbara Walters is asking me what I think? Wow'," Sunny said.
Whoopi added that there was nobody quite like Barbara.
"There isn't anyone like her and like all firsts, she's the first and there are many of us duplicates, but there will never be another Barbara Walters."