Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy were reportedly asked to leave The View as co-hosts, with Shepherd confirming her exit on Thursday.
McCarthy was a new addition to the View roundtable this year, but Shepherd has acted as a co-host on the popular daytime talk show for seven years and has become a fixture on the show since appearing as a guest-host in 2006.
“It’s been seven wonderful years on The View and after careful consideration it is time for me to move on. I am extremely grateful to Barbara Walters and Bill Gedde for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to the business opportunities that lay ahead for me and I am incredibly grateful to my View family and my fans for supporting me on this journey,” Shepherd said in a statement.
Though neither Shepherd nor ABC has revealed the reason for Shepherd’s departure, sources say that the two parties were unable to reach an agreement in contract negotiations.
Shepherd also took to Twitter to thank her fans and her co-workers on The View.
The number 7 is God’s number of completion & after 7 seasons my time at The View is now complete!So grateful2 every1 4their love & support.
— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) June 27, 2014
Incredibly grateful to my second mom @BarbaraJWalters for pushing me beyond my comfort zone – it’s been amazing doing it scared! #joy
— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) June 27, 2014
Life should be lived. Run towards the things that scare you. Choose joy and trust God – everything else will work out as it should
— Sherri Shepherd (@SherriEShepherd) June 27, 2014
Shepherd is the most recent longtime co-host to leave The View in the past year. Barbara Walters, co-creator and executive-producer of The View, left the show in May after 17 years as a regular co-host. Longtime co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck (2003-2013) and Joy Behar (1997-2013) also left the show in 2013, opening vacancies for new co-host McCarthy, who took over Hasselbeck’s seat in September, and a revolving guest-host chair.
After Shepherd’s departure was announced, McCarthy took to Twitter to declare that she, too, would be exiting the show.
“If Sherri goes… I go too,” McCarthy tweeted, suggesting that she would be leaving the show as a sign of solidarity.
If Sherri goes… I go too. #sisters
— Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) June 27, 2014
Reports suggest that McCarthy was also asked to leave because the studio felt she didn’t resonate with a daytime audience.
“Jenny just didn’t appeal to the daytime audience market. They couldn’t relate to her. There are a lot of changes taking place now that Barbara has left,” a source told FOX411.
McCarthy followed up her somewhat vague announcement with a more clear statement on her exit, writing, “My View will be changing too. As will with many hard working folks. Thanks for everyone at the show for your dedication and an amazing year.”
My View will be changing too. As will with many hard working folks. Thanks to everyone at the show for your dedication and an amazing year.
— Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) June 27, 2014
These are my Avengers and we will be back! pic.twitter.com/fjtxqfpY3H
— Jenny McCarthy (@JennyMcCarthy) June 27, 2014
McCarthy’s fiancé, and recent guest co-host, Donnie Wahlberg addressed McCarthy’s announcement on Twitter, sending out a message of support.
My View isn't changing. Standing by my baby's side all the way! Love you Jenny! You too Sherri! #sisters
— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) June 27, 2014
Shepherd later posted a photo of the three of them on Instagram, writing, “Mr. [Donnie Wahlberg] always takes care of his ladies [Jenny McCarthy] & me! To be continued…”
The last remaining regular co-host, Whoopi Goldberg, has not yet weighed in on the co-host shakeups, but the women will no doubt address the change on Friday’s episode, which will feature Walters’ first return as a guest co-host.
I'm back! Tomorrow, I become a guest on the show I started! Tune in to #TheView & hear about the upcoming Special Edition of 20/20.
— Barbara Walters (@BarbaraJWalters) June 26, 2014
ABC addressed the changes in a short statement, saying, “The View will be moving in an exciting new direction next year, and ABC has made decisions to evolve the show creatively.”
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