A veteran producer working on ABC’s The View has been fired by the network for scolding former co-host Rosie O’Donnell in front of the show’s other staff, reports Page Six.
Jennifer Shepard-Brookman, who had worked as a senior producer on the show for eight years, was “profoundly and publicly disrespectful” to Rosie at a production meeting in early February, prior to her exit, insiders said.
A source told Page Six:
During a production meeting, Jennifer began mumbling behind Rosie, who told her, ‘If you have something to say, say it to my face!’ So Jennifer did — she laced into Rosie, and there was a shouting match. Jennifer was loud, and profoundly and publicly disrespectful to Rosie.
You have to be mindful of your role and the pecking order. Producers cannot be publicly disrespectful to the talent, no matter how much you disagree.
Shepard-Brookman’s scorning of Rosie was reportedly so harsh that others joined O’Donnell in taking complaints directly to ABC’s human resources department, which launched an internal investigation.
“You have to know your place. It was so shocking, Rosie and other members of staff told the HR department about Jennifer’s behavior — she was suspended and then she was fired,” the source concluded.
Shepard-Brookman was suspended in mid-February, but ultimately fired last week after the investigation revealed its findings to Ben Sherwood, the president of Disney/ABC Television Group.
The now public lambasting took place just days before Rosie’s announcement that she would be walking away from her second stint on the show early to focus on health and family.
“My health got a little bit worse right before the holidays — my doctor was kind of concerned,” O’Donnell insisted at the time. “I can’t really fix my personal life right away, but I can fix my job.”
She continued: “So I spoke to them at ABC, and I told them, and they understood… They’ve been unbelievably supportive and loving.”
Rosie left The View on Feb. 12 and has now officially filed for divorce from wife Michelle Rounds.