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Walters: Jones going through 'difficult time'

Posted: 2008-05-09 21:10:59

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barbara Walters says she refuses to engage in a debate with Star Jones, who accused her of revealing a past affair with a senator just to sell books. Walters said despite the public rift, she prefers to hold onto the good times the former co-hosts shared on "The View."

"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," Walters told AP Radio on Friday. "I don't want to add to her difficulties."

Jones is going through a divorce from banker Al Reynolds, whom she married in 2004.

Jones lashed out at Walters after the veteran journalist wrote in her autobiography "Audition" that the women of "The View" were forced to cover up Jones' gastric bypass surgery as she swiftly lost weight ahead of her wedding. Jones maintained at the time that she was eating less and doing Pilates.

"We lied for Star," Walters told AP Radio. "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."

Earlier this week, Jones criticized her former boss for writing about her, and for including revelations of an affiar with former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke in the 1970s.

"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. It speaks to her true character," Jones told Us Weekly magazine.

Walters said her intention was to give the book historical perspective.

"I put it in to show in great part how race relations have changed," Walters said. "This was 30 years ago, it was an African-American prominent man. And it would've desroyed his career, and mine. Today it would have almost no impact."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

05/09/08 21:09 EDT

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24 comments

kat89789 05:58:03 AM May 11 2008

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I,M SO TIRED OF STAR JONES. SHE IS JUST ONE BIG SOUR GRAPE.

SHE WASN'T SO DISSAPPOINTED WHEN IT CAME TO HO'ING AROUND FOR HER WEDDING

HERE STAR I'LL GIVE YOU A BUCK TO JUST GO AWAY!

deronwalker 02:04:37 AM May 11 2008

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I have totally lost respect for BabaWawa. She was once a respectable journalist, but now she is nothing more than a sleaze bag opportunist and an attention *****----a cautionary tale.

lillyroses4o 08:51:36 PM May 10 2008

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I don't give Barbara a "standing ovation", but since she did a autobiography, she told it all, rather than a strip down version of what you want others to know. Besides it she didn't tell it, someone, one day, would tell and others would still be pointing fingers calling her a hyprocrite. Sometimes you can't win, put have a opinion and any decison is the wrong one. Secondly, Star's coy answers when she was questioned about her weight loss lends credance to Walters comments. Star comes off as a bitter person. Walters gave her career a big boost. I am glad Walters still can take the high road.

sgtgaryn 05:58:10 PM May 10 2008

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ITS ALL ABOUT THE BUX

cactuspete54 04:55:37 PM May 10 2008

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So once Wa Wa has alll the marbles, money and chalk, she decides to write a "tell all." What a low life. Get a soul Wa Wa.

greatchoicesma 04:09:54 PM May 10 2008

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Any woman that f***s another woman's husband is called a ****,
but "Barbara Walters's" announce's it and she gets a standing ovation!!

gloryb2000 01:30:58 PM May 10 2008

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Baba said she informed the Senator that she was going to write about their affair. She did not say he gave her the go-ahead. Why would he? He may be divorced and remarried, but this book would still impact his family negatively. As far as Star Jones, I don't know what her relationship is with this guy, but I do know they are not "sneaking" around, and she has said they are just friends. I doubt she would criticize Barbara if she were doing the same thing.