Co-hosts of The View came together on Tuesday to pay tribute to the late Barbara Walters, who created the famous daytime talk show in 1997.
While sitting with Whoopi Goldberg, Lisa Ling and Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, 55, shared a funny anecdote about Walters – who died on Friday aged 93.
Shepherd revealed the renowned journalist once told her to “be a lesbian” and avoid marrying men who “take money” from her during her bridal shower, which Walters threw for her.
Brutally honest: Sherri Shepherd, 55, shared a funny anecdote with her former The View co-host Barbara Walters, who died on Friday aged 93; Pictured 2009
“She said, ‘You always hang out with these men who take your money! The whole time! Stop marrying men who take your money. You must be a lesbian.” 2014 – remembered.
Walters then reportedly added, “But with your luck, they would take your money too.” The ladies laughed at this and agreed that Walters could be so brutally honest.
Shepherd was married twice. She was married to Lamar Sally from 2011 to 2015, before that she was married to Jeff Tarpley from 2001 to 2010.
Funny: Shepherd revealed the journalist once told her to “be a lesbian” and avoid marrying men who “take her money” during her own bridal shower, which Walters threw for her
Their first divorce ended in a nasty custody battle over the couple’s son, Jeffrey Jr., whom they welcomed in April 2005.
Her second divorce was also controversial and spanned several years, with Lamar fighting her for child support for their son Lamar Jr., who was born with Lamar’s sperm and an egg donation.
Sherri is not genetically linked to Lamar Jr. – who was born to a surrogate after the couple split – and fought to have her name not printed on the birth certificate, but a court eventually ruled she was legally responsible for the child.
Look: “You always come with these men who take your money! The whole time! Stop marrying men who take your money. You must be a lesbian,” Walters reportedly said, before adding, “But with your luck, they’d take your money, too.”
Remembering: Sherri was joined by former co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Lisa Ling and Joy Behar as they remembered Walters, who started the daytime talk show in 1997
Elsewhere on the show, Sherri also recalled how she always felt “protective” towards Walters and that that feeling was mutual.
“I just remember feeling so protective of this woman, who protected me so, who defended me fiercely no matter what slips I made at the table.”
The View premiered in August 1997, and more than 20 women had permanent roles as co-hosts on the morning talk show.
The show featured interviews with a variety of guests and discussed a range of topics from news and politics to entertainment.
Married Twice: Shepherd has been married twice. She dated Lamar Sally from 2011 to 2015. The couple had a contentious divorce that spanned several years and involved a complex battle over child support payments. Pictured 2014
Unlucky in love: Before him, she was married to Jeff Tarpley from 2001 to 2010. Their first divorce also ended in a nasty custody battle over the couple’s son, Jeffrey Jr.; Pictured 2012
The original View cast consisted of Walters, Joy Behar, Star Jones, Meredith Vieira and Debbie Matenopoulos.
Sherri wrote a lengthy tribute to the late journalist when she heard the sad news of Barbara’s death on Friday. She posted on Instagram of herself sitting next to Walters as the two engaged in conversation.
The talk show host began her tribute by saying: “Barbara was hard on me but she was hard on those she loved. Barbara gave me the chance to grow. She encouraged me (no…she told me) to speak up or be left behind. She told me never to take no for an answer.’
Permanent co-host: Shepherd – who joined The View in 2007 and left in 2014 – also recalled how Walters “fiercely defended” her despite her “blunders” at the table; Pictured in a still from The View from 2014
She added that Walters was close to her son Jeffrey and that the two hosts would enjoy dinner together. “I told her I always wanted to end our evenings with a sleepover in matching pajamas (you can imagine the look on her face).
Sherri called Barbara the “lion mother” and thanked her “for giving a shy girl who doesn’t like to debate seven years of the chance of a lifetime. Your believing in me has changed my life.”
During a past 2020 interview with People, Shepherd revealed, “Barbara was so hard on me. I cried in my dressing room for three years because she was so hard on me, but she did it for love.
The TV personality added that the late news anchor would tell her, “I love you, I just need you to read a book luv and learn to defend what you believe. And speak it out,” adding, “It was the most painful experience I’ve ever had, but it was the best experience.”
Long tribute: Sheri posted a lengthy tribute to her fellow co-stars on Instagram on Friday