Elisabeth Hasselbeck Calls Rosie O'Donnell's 'Gay' Comments About Her 'Offensive' & 'Disturbing'
Mar. 26 2019, Updated 4:15 p.m. ET
Elisabeth Hasselbeck is not happy with Rosie O'Donnell's bizarre comments about her.
After the comedian revealed her crush on her former co-host in the book Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View, and even went as far as to say she was likely "a little bit gay," Hasselbeck, 41, fired back.
"I'd like to be able to say that I didn't, but I read that," Hasselbeck said during an appearance on Tuesday's Fox & Friends, referring to O'Donnell's remarks about having a crush on her. "I'll be very honest. I read it and I immediately started praying. Because I'm like, how am I going to handle this in my old self would be another split screen moment, but now I really feel like by God's grace I just started praying — and I pray now the Holy Spirit gives me the words to articulate this -- but I think it can be addressed with both truth and grace."
RadarOnline.com readers know that in the book, O'Donnell, 57, said she believed her love for Hasselbeck was reciprocated, as she sensed "underlying lesbian tones on both parts."
During her talk, Hasselbeck said that if a man had made those same comments, "there would be an objectification of women in the workplace. So that is disturbing and it's wrong."
She added: "And whether you're a man or whether you're a woman, and you're objectifying women in the workplace, it's wrong."
The former The View co-host also addressed O'Donnell's comment about how she must be "at least a little bit gay" because she played softball.
"I think her casting a stereotype on female athletes and what she said... that all female athletes are a little bit gay... I would say this directly to her, and I would say, 'That's an unfair stereotype and it seems selfish in a way and I think that it's untrue,'" Hasselbeck said.
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The star admitted she tried to contact O'Donnell after reading what she said about her in the book, but she had an old phone number.
Hasselbeck concluded her statement by saying she forgave O'Donnell for her remarks and wished her the best.
"I can handle that with the grace of God because I need grace and I need forgiveness. So Rosie, I think it was disturbing to read those things and it was offensive to me, but I forgive her. I totally forgive you, Rosie," she said. "... I really hope that we can be at peace and that we can... both hold our beliefs in one hand and hold each other's hand in the other and still have a relationship that's at peace."
In the book, O'Donnell said her falling-out with Hasselbeck after their 2007 on-air fight felt like a breakup, because she truly loved her. Clearly, her conservative co-host did not reciprocate, and yet she still wishes the comic "the peace of God."
"I would pray for my friends, I hope that she has the peace of God. Because... Rosie O'Donnell is still seen and known and loved by God, and I hope that she feels that and I hope that she can find, ultimately, the peace," Hasselbeck said. "Even more than I want to be at peace with her, I hope she finds that peace because God wants that for her too."