ABC's "The View" is finally dealing with the "giant neon pink gorilla in the room" since co-host Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy announced their departure from the daytime show.
The show returned on Monday, in its first live episode since the shocking announcement, and an emotional Shepherd confirmed on air that she and McCarty would not be returning once their contracts expired in August.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, McCarthy, who joined "The View" in September 2013, broke the ice first with jokes that the "rumors" of their departures were not true, but later admitted to the audience that she was lying.
"Actually it is true. But I love the support," McCarthy said.
She said she was grateful for the opportunity to work with Barbara Walters, during the TV legend's last year as a co-host. The former Playmate added that she has a new job, which she'll talk about in the coming weeks and hinted that it does compete with "The View."
"After much consideration, I've taken a new job that will allow me to do what I do best, which is talk without having to interrupt anyone," McCarthy said. "I will be announcing it in the next few weeks, and I couldn't be more grateful. Stay tuned, even if it does compete with 'The View'."
After McCarthy addressed the audience, Shepherd, who has been on the daytime show for seven years, broke down in tears while reading her comments from the prompter. A source said the 47-year-old TV personality did not want to discuss her departure before because she did not want to detract from Walters' retirement.
"It is true that I'm leaving 'The View'," she said. "A lot of producers have known since the spring that I didn't intend to return after my contract ends in August. You know I'm a woman of faith, and seven is the number of God's completion. I've been here seven years, and my time with The View is complete. I'm going to forever be grateful to Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie for taking a chance on an actress and making me learn things, helping me step out of my comfort zone. They gave me a chance."
She continued: "I've been blessed to interview President Barack Obama. I get the chance to call Oprah Winfrey a friend, and that is a long way from being a legal secretary who wanted to tell jokes for a living. So, I have exciting news I will be announcing in the future because I love the show I plan on coming back to promote them here... I do say to everybody, take a chance, step out, do something that makes you scared, because this scared me to do 'The View'. I love the cast and crew who took me in and made me feel like, this is my family. I love you."
The two co-hosts reportedly received a standing ovation from the studio audience.
"Thank you, guys, for supporting us," McCarthy said to the audience.
