With the release of her long-overdue, and much bally-hooed new memoir, 'Audition,' Barbara Walters has been thrust into the entertainment spotlight like never before.
Mostly because of some of the details in the gargantuan-sized read, which was published by Knopf on May 6.
One juicy morsel that has gotten America into a tizzy: the veteran news journalist's revelation that she had a lurid affair with a married man – a married Black man (former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke).
Star Jones, who infamously exited her long-running stint on 'The View' (which Walters created, produces and co-hosts), threw her two-cents in the mix last week, criticizing the former '20/20' host for using scandal to sell books.
"It is a sad day when an icon like Barbara Walters, in the sunset of her life, is reduced to publicly branding herself as an adulterer, humiliating an innocent family with accounts of her illicit affair and speaking negatively against me all for the sake of selling a book," Jones told a tabloid.. "It speaks to her true character."
Walters, however, has taken somewhat of the high road wit her response to Jones, who it was recently revealed is divorcing Al Scales Reynolds after four years of marriage."Star is going through a very difficult time right now, and I'm going to have very happy memories of how wonderful she was on the program," the twice-divorced Walters told 'AP Radio' on May 9. "I don't want to add to her difficulties."
Elsewhere in 'Audition,' Walters talks about how the women of 'The View' were forced to cover up Jones' gastric bypass surgery as she swiftly lost weight ahead of her wedding.
Unbelievable to many, Jones maintained at the time that she was eating less and doing Pilates.
"We lied for Star," Walters said in the interview. "She was our colleague. She didn't want to discuss it, we didn't force her to. Was that a mistake? I don't know. ... It was Star's decision."
And regarding that affair, she added: "I put it in to show in great part how race relations have changed. This was 30 years ago, it was an African-American prominent man. And it would've destroyed his career, and mine. Today it would have almost no impact."
Comments: (71)
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By: jane on 5/12/2008 9:49AM
I'm 53 years old born and raised in the South. I grew up in a house hold where values, morals, and virtue was taught. Respect, love for others and most of all the love of Jesus. As I became an adult and began to live my life continuing to live the way my parents taught me. Even when I did enter the world of sin, I had girlfriends and still do that we could talk about out lives privately go to God and confess our sins and ask God to forgive us.
In todays society the adults talk about how "RAP and VIDEOS" is causing our young people to go astray and are the influence on their lives. Well, I think we need to revamp that thought, I hear Bill Cosby want to help the young people after he made such slanderous remarks; Oprah Winfrey when she open the school in Africa a reporter asked her while didnt she open one in America, her response, "Children in America dont want an education, they want ipods and tennis shoes." Yet, the adults are suppose to be role models for young people.
The Oprah Winfrey show is just as bad as Jerry Springer. How can we tell young girls, and women to remain absence or stay a virgin and become a virturous women. The bible tell us to confess our sins one to another, or go to God and ask for forgiveness. Not air your dirty laundry on national T.V.
I was shocked at Oprah Winfrey. I facilitate a girl group and we discuss this Barbara Walters adulterous act. She sat on T.V. proudly bragging about an affair that happen years ago and that she enter into willingly knowing the man was maried. It seems as if she was happy to destroy this mans family, or try too. As if she held on to this affair to do harm to others. After all these years go to one of her best friends talk about, ask God to forgive her and move on. Thats to much like right, instead she want to make money off of her sinful life. We live in a sick and sinful society and if we (Christian) dont be careful we will get suckered into these people worlds, (sinful world). Oprah, Barbara, Bill Cosby, the reports, etc. have money but somethings is missing in their lives because it takes sin to make them happy. These people truly need to seek Jesus. As far as Star Jones, Barbara I am glad that she didnt buy into allowing the audience to control her life. The audience are human and anyone that is sitting in your audience without sin let them cast the first stone. Money-what does it prosper Oprah, Barbara and anyone else to gain the world with your sinful ways and loose your souls. Barbara go to God and confess your sins, stop exploiting other people to make money for your own selfish needs.
How can anyone point a finger at the rappers and videos when you are having sex with someone else husband and bragging about it. Barbara you are to old to be seeking attention give your life to chirst.
The bible tells us when a man findth a wife he findth a good thing. Not when you make a conscience choice to sleep with someone else husband hope that he would leave his wife to marry you and after he made a sound judgment to stay with his wife, then you get revenge by writing a book and going on national T.V. to tell in length details about an adulterous affair you had 20 years ago. Barbara this affair could not have been haunting you because if it was you would have found a Priest or your minister to confess and move on. Oh but no, instead you publicize it to make money and to try and destroy a family. You are sick. Oprah I am very disappointed with you how you allow Barbara to use your show to air out her dirty laundry; all money isn't good money. Oprah it is true misery loves company because you are shacking I assume its o.k. for Barbara to sleep with a married man.
One thing people in general should realize is that birds fly high, but when they get ready to eat and drink, that have to come down to earth.
Birds of a feather flock together. Barbara and Oprah.
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By: MrMellow on 5/12/2008 10:34AM
All of this publicity about the book will also probably help The View ratings. She has been everywhere talking about it.
Barbara Walters news and video clips:
http://netpressions.com/celebrities_gn/barbarawalters.cfm
Star Jones news and video clips:
http://netpressions.com/celebrities_gn/starjones.cfm
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By: BETTYEJ on 5/12/2008 11:07AM
I have never cared for Barbara Waters or her tacky show the View. I put her on the same level as the rest of the White Media that have done nothing but turn our air-way and News outlets into nothing but a joke. I don't take her and CBS/NBC/CNN/Fox News and the other spin and smear broadcasters seriously. None of them would know how to report the News if it was staring them in the face.
Black America, wake up! Look at how on all the major network, there are nothing but stupid shows that are 3/4 lily white and down right stupid, target for their White audience who have no taste in anything that makes sense.
When our race gets a show, they are no better. i don't know about any of you guys, but until they get it right and start putting something worthy of my time, I will be tuning out. "WHEN YOU STAND FOR NOTHING, YOU WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING"!
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By: Jacqueline on 5/12/2008 11:15AM
It is a sad day, when we relish in the fact that one commited adultry! What's ironic is the gentleman in question "Will Not Even Comment" on the subject. She is not nor has she ever been in his league! Oprah, now that is a entire differnet story. I admire her for the accomplishments she has made in her life. She is the biggest "Aunt Jamama" in history! What saddens me about her is she never does anything for the American Blacks! Help Our Children here! Although she lives in sin "Stedman" I do believe he is a "Cover Boy" The very close relationship she has with Gayle is in question. HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN A BATH WITH YOUR BEST GIRLFRIEND? Prayer is what they and we all need.
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By: I WASN'T BORN IN THE WEEDS on 5/12/2008 2:49PM
...regarding barbara's so called announcement of her interlude with an african american official...HOG WASH!...what has that to do with opening up communications with people of different races?...NOT A DOG GONE THING...all that says, is that she had an affair with a married man...that does not make her an expert on race relations.........PUUUUULEEEZZZEEE..
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By: what a whore on 5/12/2008 3:50PM
Baba Wawa played the whore with someone elses husband. Why did she feel the need to brag about this. Is she reminiscing about the old days, her whore days.
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By: Daughter of a single mother on 5/12/2008 4:11PM
Barbara was being honest about her whole life, not just the part that made her look good, but her whole life, including the mistakes she's made with raising her daughter. We've all made them. She said she regretted the choice, but acknowledged that it was meaningful at the time. We all learn, and who ever has no sin can throw the first stone, I have too many myself to be attacking her for her admitted mistakes. I admite you Barbara for all you have accomplished as a mostly single mother.
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By: DarkNLovely on 5/12/2008 5:06PM
Coming to terms w/her life, with all the glitz and glamour and trials and tribulations is something we all have done at one time or another. Barbara's choice to be honest about her mistakes is certainly honorable, but not at the risk of disgracing another. If it was important for her to admit to an affair with someone who was/is married or w/someone who is black, that's one thing. I don't understand why it would be important to name that person, as if to make her story more credible to those of us of color, maybe? "So, everyone, please buy my book, even you black folks...see, I had an affair w/a black man...can't you see how much I'd have to like you people to do that?" Come on...it would have been just as plausible for her to acknowledge her less-than-perfect life (as if I would have ever thought any differently) without specifically naming or embarrassing someone else. I've always thought Barbara was kind of classy - except this time...
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By: kim curtis on 5/12/2008 8:39PM
barbara walters is a common tramp she should be kick of the view.
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By: Wanda on 5/13/2008 6:58AM
I agree with #8, Barbara Walters is a human being with a lot of issues, as we all have. Being transparent helps individuals to grow. When we reveal our issues, it allows people to believe they have a chance.
This holier than thou attitude and keeping it under covers is what makes people stop being in each other.
I believe that Barbara Walter used tack and integrity. She told the entire story. It was her life
Star Jones needs to re-examine herself. Look at where you have come and where you are now. Forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness and move on.
They are both blessed and have life special lives
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