Legendary singer Barry Manilow has cancelled a scheduled appearance on
U.S. TV show The View, because he dislikes co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
The mild-mannered Mandy singer was scheduled to appear on the daytime
show on Tuesday (17Sep07) to promote his new covers album, The Greatest
Songs of The Seventies.
But Manilow pulled out of the show, after stating he finds right-wing
host Hasselbeck "dangerous and offensive" and strongly disagrees
with her "conservative views."
In a statement, Manilow says, "I strongly disagree with her views.
I think she's dangerous and offensive. I will not be on the same stage as
her... I cannot compromise my beliefs."
He adds, "I had made a request that I be interviewed by co-hosts
Joy (Behar), Barbara (Walters) or Whoopi (Goldberg), but not Elisabeth
Hasselbeck.
Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple
request, so I bowed out."
Manilow's pal Rosie O'Donnell quit The View in May (07) after a heated
and politically-charged public dispute with Hasselbeck.