Barbara Walters, The View | featured news

Barbara Walters insisted on Monday that Elisabeth Hasselbeck will not be leaving "The View," following earlier reports that the co-host was departing the show. A number of outlets reported on Friday that Hasselbeck's contract would not be renewed. The reason, according to the reports, was that Hasselbeck's conservative views were clashing with the audience. The rumors emerged on Friday, one day after Joy Behar announced that she was leaving the show after sixteen years.

The opportunity for a live, on-air phone interview with George Zimmerman, the man currently awaiting trial for the fatal shooting of teen Trayvon Martin, might be reason enough for some TV talk hosts to change their plans and take Zimmerman's call -- but not for Barbara Walters. Zimmerman called into “The View” Thursday morning only to be rebuffed by the veteran journalist.