BARBARA Walters recently celebrated her 93rd birthday.
But the legendary journalist, who created The View, has not been seen in public for years, as fears for her health continue to mount.
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Earlier this week, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg gave a rare update on the reclusive show creator, who officially retired from broadcasting in 2014.
As a sweet, smiling photo of Barbara appeared on the screen, the moderator said: “To the one and only Barbara Walters, who had a birthday yesterday, we wanna say, 27 never looked so good!”
The TV host, who was born in Boston in 1929, turned 93 years old on Sunday, September 25.
After Whoopi brought up Barbara, fans of The View quickly rushed to social media to both wish the retired star a happy birthday, as well as to express their concern for her.
Barbara has kept to herself since retiring and has not had a public appearance since 2016, only adding to fans’ concerns.
The star was noticeably absent from all of The View’s 25th-anniversary celebrations earlier this year, as well.
Over the past decade or so, in the years leading up to and following her retirement, the television personality has seen her health sadly deteriorate through a number of setbacks.
HEART SURGERY
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In May, 2010, Barbara underwent an aortic valve replacement.
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A the time, she announced on The View that she was about to undergo surgery to replace the faulty heart valve.
“You know how I always say to you how healthy I am. … I’ve never missed a day’s work,” she began. “Later this week, I’m going to have surgery to replace one faulty heart valve. Lots of people have done this, and I have known about this condition for a while now.”
The host revealed the problem was detected during an echocardiogram of her heart — a scan that she told the audience showed that her valves were “getting tighter and smaller.”
She was told that her chances of being alive in two years were 50-50— unless she had the open-heart surgery.
Barbara was back enjoying her View on the morning show four months later.
BAD FALL
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While in Washington D.C. in January 2013 to cover President Barack Obama‘s second inauguration, the veteran ABC journalist lost her footing at a party and fell down the stairs.
The then 83-year-old fell while leaving and cut her forehead.
“Out of an abundance of caution, she went to the hospital to have her cut tended to, have a full examination and remains there for observation,” Jeffrey Schneider, senior vice president of ABC News, said at the time in a statement.
“Barbara is alert (and telling everyone what to do), which we all take as a very positive sign.”
The journalist missed out on the rest of inauguration week, and several days following as well.
CHICKEN POX
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Just a few days later, the broadcast legend came down with chicken pox.
Once again, she found herself under hospital care, as Whoopi explained on The View.
“We want to give you an update on Barbara,” Whoopi said. “You all know that she fell and cut her head 10 days ago, and then was running a temperature, but it turns out it is all the result of a delayed childhood. Barbara has the chicken pox.
“She’d never had it as a child. So now she’s been told to rest, she’s not allowed any visitors.
“And we’re telling you, Barbara, no scratching.”
DEMENTIA
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Perhaps most troubling, several reports in recent years have spread unsubstantiated rumors that the elderly icon is suffering from mental problems.
According to Suggest.com, some reports allege Barbara has been diagnosed with dementia and has experienced a significant cognitive decline in the last few years.
The claims have not been confirmed by Walters or her representatives.
But former guests and co-hosts on the show shared similar stories.
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In 2020, Ross Mathews claimed Barbara invited him to return to The View weeks after hitting it off their first meeting – but then forgot who he was.
The comedian and author relayed the 2007 incident on the Juicy Scoop podcast with Heather McDonald.
The funnyman told friend Heather that Barbara loved him when he appeared as a guest on the show, and personally asked him to come back as co-host.
When that came to pass, though just a few weeks had gone by, Ross said an aggravated Barbara saw him and asked in a production meeting before the live show: “Who is he, and what is he doing here?”
“Someone tell me who he is so I can talk about him on television.”
She then allegedly turned to him and said: “I have no idea who you are and why you’re here.”
Former show co-host Jenny McCarthy concurred with Ross in the tell-all book Ladies Who Punch that Barbara also frequently forgot who she was, despite working together regularly.
“Who is Jenny McCarthy?” Jenny said Barbara once said in front of her, months after she had joined the cast.
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