Rosie O’Donnell Finally Puts an End to All Those ‘The Talk’ Rumors: ‘They Didn’t Ask Me’

After rumors began swirling around last year, many fans thought that Rosie O’Donnell was going to replace Julie Chen on The Talk. However, it doesn’t seem like that was the case considering the famed TV host addressed the gossip during a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.

“They didn’t ask me to be on The Talk,” the 57-year-old bluntly told host Andy Cohen during the show’s June 24 episode. “I know there were rumors that they did. But I just went on when Julie Chen was having people fill in — I was one of the many people.”

Even if she was interested in the hosting gig, Rosie said that it probably wouldn’t fit into her schedule. “I live in New York, it would be very hard for me to move with my family out to California,” the Emmy winner admitted. “That was never a real thing.”

Although The View alum enjoyed filling in every now and then, Rosie not talking about politics would have been hard for her. “I think The Talk is just happy and that’s what they want it to be, light and airy,” she said of the daytime talk show’s choice to avoid discussing politics. “I could get into the deep dark dungeons of what’s going on and what we have to do as Americans.”

Rumors regarding Rosie’s potential gig on The Talk were sparked after Julie officially announced she was leaving last September. “I have been at The Talk since the day it started nine years ago, and the cast, crew and staff have become family to me,” Julie said in an emotional video message announcing her departure. “But right now, I need to spend more time at home with my husband and our young son. So I’ve decided to leave The Talk.”

This January, CBS announced that Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba would replace Julie as a cohost. The daytime talk show suffered another change this past April, after cohost and executive producer Sara Gilbert announced that she was leaving to focus on her family and other aspects of her career. Marie Osmond is set to replace Sara following The Conners star’s final show on August 2.