Comedian Rosie O'Donnell announced she will return to 'The View' for the show’s 30th-anniversary special as a guest. O'Donnell made the revelation during an interview on The Tangle with Kyle Ridley podcast on Monday, stating she would participate in whatever capacity the producers requested.
The anniversary special is scheduled for next year and will feature a lineup of former and current hosts, according to O'Donnell. She emphasized her role would be limited to a guest appearance, reflecting on the show’s evolution since her previous tenures as a co-host.
Past tensions with Whoopi Goldberg resurfaced in O'Donnell’s remarks, though she described their relationship as improved. O'Donnell recalled a tense interaction during her last appearance on the show, attributing it to differing expectations of collaboration. She noted Goldberg’s EGOT status and expressed admiration for her but acknowledged the dynamic did not align with her initial hopes for a close partnership.
"I wanted us to be best friends," O'Donnell said. "I went to her house before I went on the show, and we had a lovely lunch and talked about everything. And I was like, 'I'm here for you.'" She added that while the moment did not unfold as anticipated, she believed the two had moved past the earlier tension.
O'Donnell’s prior stints on The View spanned Season 10 (2006–2007) and Season 18 (2014–2015), during which she was a prominent liberal voice on the panel. Her return comes as the show prepares to celebrate three decades on air, a milestone that has prompted reflections on its history and impact.
The anniversary special will reportedly include a reunion of former hosts, though O'Donnell did not confirm whether additional appearances were planned beyond her own. Producers have not yet issued a formal statement regarding the lineup or format of the event.