Star Jones’ Exit From ‘The View,’ Explained
The View is known for its panel of commentators who frequently get into heated discussions about current events. It’s always news when a co-host leaves the ABC talk show, and many viewers were shocked when longtime host Star Jones exited The View. So, why did Star Jones leave The View?
Jones’ career in law and television
Though Star Jones is known for her TV career, she had a very different job before showing up on the small screen. Jones earned a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1986 and began working as a prosecutor with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York, the same year. In 1992, she rose to senior assistant district attorney.
Her law career led her to her TV work. In 1991, Court TV recruited her to commentate on the coverage surrounding the William Kennedy Smith sexual assault trial. For years after, Jones appeared as a legal commentator on the Today show and NBC Nightly News.
In 1994, Jones got her own court show, Jones & Jury, where she gave her “verdict” on cases brought by the guests. The show was canceled after one season, but Jones continued to be a well-known legal correspondent.
She became the chief legal analyst for Inside Edition, leading the coverage for the explosive O.J. Simpson trial. Jones is also the only reporter who landed an interview with Simpson during his civil trial.
Why did Star Jones leave ‘The View’?
In 1997, Jones joined the ABC talk show The View, making her one of the talk show’s original co-hosts, alongside Meredith Vieira, Debbie Matenopoulos, Joy Behar, and Barbara Walters, the show’s creator.
Jones weathered her share of controversies while on the show. After shedding a significant amount of weight, Jones revealed she’d had gastric bypass surgery. Many criticized her because she initially told audiences her weight loss was the result of diet and exercise.
She also faced scrutiny for doing product placement ads while on the show before her 2004 wedding. She did the product placement in exchange for receiving free products and services for the wedding.
However, The View fans were shocked to hear Jones would not return for the show’s 2007 season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC decided not to renew Jones’ contract.
Walters later explained that the network let Jones go after polling The View’s audience and found that viewers disliked her due to the controversies surrounding her weight loss and wedding discussions.
“They had done a great deal of research, and her negatives were rising,” Walters told The New York Times. “Not so much because of what she did on the air. It was things she did off the air. The audience was losing trust in her. They didn’t believe some of the things she said.”
Jones’ exit from The View was messy, with the former host calling the situation “ugly,” per The Hollywood Reporter. However, she soon moved on and continued to work in television.
What is Star Jones doing now?
In 2007, she began appearing on her own show, Star Jone. But TruTV canceled the series after just six months. Jones also worked as a host for E!’s red carpet coverage and hosted House Hunters and The Bad Girls Club Season 2 reunion. In addition, Jones was a contestant on the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice, ultimately placing fifth.
Today, Star Jones is set to become the judge for the 2022-23 season of Fox’s Divorce Court. Even though her time on The View ended badly, Jones’ fans are happy to see she’s still working on TV and are excited to see her use her legal skills on Divorce Court.
