A top producer of “The View” has been fired by ABC brass for brashly berating former host Rosie O’Donnell in front of the show’s entire staff, Page Six has exclusively learned.
Jennifer Shepard-Brookman, a senior producer who has worked at the ABC daytime show for over eight years, was “profoundly and publicly disrespectful” to O’Donnell in front of the whole staff at a production meeting in early February, show insiders told us.
Shepard-Brookman’s behavior towards O’Donnell was so brutal, we’re told that staff, including O’Donnell herself, complained to ABC’s human resources department. Shepard-Brookman, 45, was initially suspended in mid-February, but was fired from “The View” last week, multiple sources confirmed.
One show insider said: “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.”
The source continued, “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. 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.”
Other sources say the internal investigation into the on-set skirmish reported its findings all the way up to Ben Sherwood, now the president of Disney/ABC Television Group.
The daytime drama took place just before O’Donnell announced she was leaving “The View” to take care of her kids amid her divorce from wife Michelle Rounds, and to focus on her health. Her farewell show was on Feb. 12.
Cindi Berger, spokeswoman for O’Donnell, said, “There are so many behind-the-scenes stories at ‘The View,’ this is yet another.” A rep for the program sniffed, “We don’t comment on rumor, speculation or gossip.” Brookman didn’t get back to us.