Barbara Walters (left) and Star Jones on The View
Star Jones returned to The View Wednesday – her first visit to the ABC talk show since her much talked-about departure in June 2006."It was ugly. Everything. It was a bad emotional time. Nasty things were being said in the media," Jones said after her former boss, Barbara Walters, insisted on discussing her exit in 2007, when the host abruptly announced she was leaving on the air, then revealed she had been fired by the show.
"I wanted to go out on my own terms so that if I walked back here I'd feel good about it," Jones continued. "I had eight fantastic years here. One was 'eh.' I came back to congratulate you on all you accomplished. I hope you congratulate me on what I accomplished."
Walters and co-host Joy Behar also asked Jones, who was on Wednesday's episode to raise awareness about women's heart health, about her 2003 gastric bypass surgery – and subsequent 160 lb.-weight loss – which she had long kept secret.
"We tried to protect you. We were told, 'Don't say it was gastric [bypass]. Say it was pilates and portion control,' " Behar said, before adding, "You are now a skinny bitch. Congratulations."
"We did lie for you!" Walters added, to which Jones responded, "Who cares? I look good."