Within the hours after iconic newswoman Barbara Walters died on Friday, tributes poured in from well-known mates, colleagues and followers.
Walters’ rep Cindi Berger confirmed the information of Walters’ dying at age 93, telling PEOPLE: “Barbara Walters handed away peacefully in her dwelling surrounded by family members. She lived an enormous life.”
“She lived her life with no regrets,” Berger’s assertion continued. “She was a trailblazer not just for feminine journalists, however for all ladies.”
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Fellow TV titan Oprah Winfrey led a protracted listing of notable admirers to pay their respects to Walters. The media mogul wrote on Instagram that she was “grateful” Walters had been “such a robust and gracious position mannequin.”
Former Walt Disney Firm CEO Robert Iger was among the many first to mirror on Walters’ “one-of-a-kind” legacy and despatched his condolences to Walters’ daughter Jacqueline.
“Barbara was a true legend, a pioneer not only for ladies in journalism however for journalism itself,” Iger mentioned in an announcement to PEOPLE and by way of Twitter. “She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed a lot of crucial interviews of our time, from heads of state and leaders of regimes to the largest celebrities and sports activities icons. I had the pleasure of calling Barbara a colleague for greater than three many years, however extra importantly, I used to be capable of name her an expensive buddy. She might be missed by all of us on the Walt Disney Firm, and we ship our deepest condolences to her daughter Jacqueline.”
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A number of tributes got here in from co-hosts of The View, which Walters created 1997 and moderated for a few years. Rosie O’Donnell merely known as her former boss and colleague a “legend” on Instagram.
Star Jones, certainly one of The View‘s first-ever co-hosts, tweeted: “I owe Barbara Walters greater than I might ever repay. Rest well sister…mother…friend…colleague…mentor.“
Jones’ fellow OG View co-host Debbie Matenopoulos shared on her Instagram Story that she was “so so so unhappy…. No phrases proper now.”
Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Tv by way of Getty
“Thanks for every little thing. You single handedly modified my life and the life of each different feminine journalist by main the best way for us all,” Matenopoulos continued. “Could you relaxation in peace and in energy and wonder you superb girl!! I owe you every little thing as achieve this many others. You’ll at all times be my hero.”
The Story included an image of Walters and Matenopouloson set in 1997. “My first month on @theviewabc my greatest buddy took this image from the viewers and actually simply confirmed it to me about 4 hours in the past!!!” she reminisced. “We have been laughing so arduous about how younger and foolish I used to be after which about an hour later I bought the information. I’m in shock. I like you Barbara at all times and without end. You taught me every little thing !!!”
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Former panelist Meghan McCain wrote, partially, that Walters’ “arduous hitting questions and welcoming demeanor made her a family identify and chief in American journalism.”
McCain’s conservative predecessor Elisabeth Hasselbeck shared an Instagram Reel with a caption that learn, partially, “I like ❤️ you Barbara. GOD is on this story. I’ve few phrases tonight.” Plugging her subsequent Fox Information look, she added, “It is going to be an honor to be broadcasting about your love and legacy. ? #thebeststoriesareinheaven”
Michelle Collins shared a particular View custom: “One of many first rites of passage of turning into a number on @TheView was to have lunch with Barbara Walters. Few times in my life have I been that nervous. She was an absolute trailblazer, class, class, smarts which are more and more arduous to come back by. I will at all times be grateful. RIP”
Sunny Hostin, in the meantime, posted a tribute from Ghana, Africa that “The world has misplaced a exceptional girl right now. I’m heartbroken to listen to of Barbara’s passing. She was a rare, meticulous and no-nonsense journalist with a depraved humorousness. She shattered numerous glass ceilings and did it with grace and humility. Whereas I am deeply saddened by this loss and can miss her terribly, I am without end grateful for the paths she blazed for me and so many others. I am humbled and honored to hold on her legacy. Relaxation in Energy.”
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Members of the printed journalism neighborhood additionally provided condolences, reward and reminiscences, with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts noting she’d be “forever grateful for [Barbara’s] stellar instance and for her friendship.”
Former longtime CBS Night Information anchor Dan Fairly tweeted, “The world of journalism has misplaced a pillar of professionalism, courage, and integrity. Barbara Walters was a trailblazer and a real professional. She outworked, out-thought, and out-hustled her opponents. She left the world the higher for it. She might be deeply missed. RIP”
ABC Information and 20/20 correspondent Deborah Roberts mirrored on how she’d “always remember the phone call when she asked me to affix the groundbreaking program.”
Former GMA host Joan Lunden wrote, “We’ve got misplaced a real legend with the passing of Barbara Walters. Such a path blazer. Such a beneficiant girl – I learned so much from working with her.”
Tamron Corridor known as her fellow former Right now present anchor “The Legend. The Blueprint. The Greatest.”
Maria Shriver bought private: “[Barbara] was a mentor to me as well as a friend. So many ladies broke into the information enterprise as a result of she did her job effectively.”
World Information Tonight anchor David Muir wrote, “So typically we toss across the phrases icon, legend, trailblazer – however Barbara Walters was all of those. And maybe, above all else, Barbara Walters was brave. She paved the best way for therefore many – we discovered from her – and stay in awe of her to at the present time. RIP, Barbara.”
Former Right now present host Katie Couric added that Walters “was the OG of feminine broadcasters. She was simply as comfy interviewing world leaders as she was Oscar winners and her physique of labor is unparalleled.”
“She appreciated to say we have been comparable — that neither of us was significantly glamorous,” added Couric. “I by no means fairly knew the best way to take that! However the truth that Barbara noticed a few of her on me was nothing however a praise. Thanks for every little thing, Barbara. ❤️ #RIP”
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Among the many followers and former scorching seat occupants who chimed in, Monica Lewinsky — who sat down with Walters for a robust interview in the course of the media storm that surrounded her White Home affair with then-President Invoice Clinton — shared a Twitter thread about her 25-year connection to Waltrs.
“i knew barbara for over half of my life,” she started. “we stayed in contact over the previous 25 years. the final time we noticed one another was for lunch a couple of years in the past. after all, she was charming, witty and a few of her questions have been nonetheless her signature interview fashion.”
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised the very fact Walters “by no means flinched when questioning the world’s strongest folks. She held them accountable. She cared concerning the fact and she or he made us care too.”
Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph tweeted: “Rest in Peace precious Peace Barbara Walters!!”
Who’s the Boss? star Alyssa Milano credited Walters for “for helping me find my voice.”
Surprise Girl herself Lynda Carter shared a classic video clip of herself being interviewed by Walters and the ladies of The View with the caption: “Barbara Walters was an American establishment. As the primary feminine nationwide information anchor, she opened the door to limitless prospects for therefore many women who needed to work in TV, myself included. Her impact cannot be overstated. I will miss you, Barbara. Thanks for every little thing.”
Speak present host Drew Barrymore, who has adopted in Walters’ footsteps with The Drew Barrymore Present, known as her “A real pioneer who was by no means one to shrink back from questions and go after the reality she was in search of. I revered her as a result of she did all of it, and spoke to everybody and broke limitations. What a tremendous life she lived.”
In an announcement shared by way of ABC Information’ Twitter account, Diane Sawyer described Walters as “a trailblazer, a singular power who opened the door for each girl in tv information.”
“She was additionally the historical past maker proper down the corridor – my buddy and street buddy, keen to speak concerning the information world, the last decade of ardour work – the curiosity and laughter that will get us all by way of,” she added. “Disappointment. Gratitude. And a salute from all of us who knew what we owe her.”
Speaker of the Home Nancy Pelosi additionally paid tribute with an announcement on Twitter as effectively. “Barbara Walters was a trailblazer and an icon: reworking tv journalism along with her mind and integrity, braveness and poise,” she wrote. “For many years, she by no means shied away from asking the powerful inquiries to folks in energy, and she or he by no means drained in her relentless pursuit of fact.”
Added Pelosi: “Personally, it was my privilege to take a seat down with Barbara a number of occasions — from information programming to The View — and see her masterful work firsthand. Her passing is a superb loss — however her legendary legacy will encourage generations of newswomen. Could she relaxation in peace.”
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This previous September, Meredith Vieira opened as much as PEOPLE concerning the “super” privilege of being chosen by Walters to reasonable The View in its early days.
“To have the chance to work along with her was considerably of a dream come true. I believe that she hesitated with me when it comes to hiring me as a result of she did not know I used to be humorous. However Barbara took an opportunity on me. It wasn’t a job that I used to be in search of and significantly all for till I auditioned,” she mentioned. “After which I noticed, ‘I do not know why I might actually get pleasure from this, however I do.'”
“As soon as you’re employed with Barbara, she’s a really sophisticated individual,” Vieira added of her former boss. “On one hand, she’s very sort and beneficiant, and on the opposite, an actual taskmaster and hard as nails, which is why she succeeded on this enterprise at a time when there have been so few ladies. She had not solely brains, however actual tenacity.”
