Fifteen years after their explosive on-air confrontation made headlines, former The View co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Rosie O’Donnell are once again locked in a public battle — reopening one of daytime television’s most infamous wounds. What was once thought to be a heated moment of political disagreement has now turned into a war of words about truth, manipulation, and memory.

It all started when Rosie O’Donnell appeared on an Australian radio show and made a surprising claim: that her legendary 2007 argument with Hasselbeck — the one that ended with a tense split-screen moment seen around the world — was not spontaneous at all. According to O’Donnell, it was orchestrated by The View’s producers.

“The split screen? Split screen,” Rosie said during the interview. “Did you know that was happening? Of course not… That was prepared. Oh, yes. So the whole thing, I think, was a setup.”

Her statement immediately reignited one of TV’s most memorable controversies — and this time, Elisabeth Hasselbeck wasn’t staying silent.

Days later, Hasselbeck took to Instagram with an emotional response, visibly shaken and fighting back tears. Sitting in what appeared to be her home office, she looked straight into the camera, her voice breaking as she addressed Rosie directly.

“My heart is like, ‘Just please stop,’” she said. “Like we’re all just trying our best. Stop lying. Stop. Stop.”

It was a raw, vulnerable moment from Hasselbeck, who said she was stunned that O’Donnell would characterize their emotional exchange as manufactured drama. “Rosie, if you can just stop, stop the madness, stop the lying, and just be free,” she continued, her voice trembling. “I really hope that you can be released from whatever this is that’s causing you to cause such harm.”

For many viewers who remembered the 2007 clash, this was déjà vu. Back then, their argument — which centered on the Iraq War and patriotism — spiraled into an intense, unfiltered debate that blurred the line between political commentary and personal pain. The fight ultimately marked the end of Rosie’s tenure on The View, and to this day, remains one of the show’s defining moments.

But now, with O’Donnell’s claim that the entire thing was “a setup,” the question arises: was that fiery confrontation authentic — or just made-for-TV chaos?

For her part, Hasselbeck insists it was real — deeply real. “We believe in things that are so vehemently opposed,” she said, reflecting on their long-standing differences. “And we’re passionate women. You know, you don’t have one of us who doesn’t care. We both care, and that’s why we get emotional.”

Her words serve as a reminder that both women, despite being on opposite ends of the political and ideological spectrum, were united by their conviction and passion. But for Elisabeth, Rosie’s suggestion of producer manipulation wasn’t just inaccurate — it was deeply hurtful.

To her, this wasn’t just about revisiting a television moment; it was about defending her integrity and the authenticity of what viewers saw that day. Hasselbeck’s emotional plea — “Stop the lying” — wasn’t just directed at Rosie. It was also a defense of her truth, of what she lived and felt in that moment.

Meanwhile, O’Donnell’s remarks suggest she may be seeking to reframe that day through a different lens — one of production politics and media control. “I think that we’re two grown women who will work toward resolution on some issues,” she said, hinting that she doesn’t wish to escalate the situation further.

Yet, for fans and followers of The View, this revived feud feels like more than a simple disagreement. It’s a cultural flashback — a reminder of how much the show shaped conversations about politics, emotion, and gender in television’s most unpredictable arena.

In the end, the emotional contrast between Rosie’s blunt revelations and Elisabeth’s tearful plea underscores something deeper: two women who once shared a stage, now separated by time, perspective, and pain, still wrestling with the same question — what really happened that day?

Whether the infamous argument was a setup or a genuine eruption of passion may never be fully resolved. But one thing remains clear: both Hasselbeck and O’Donnell continue to stand firm in their truths, their voices echoing through the years — as strong, conflicted, and human as ever.