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- In the hours after Barbara Walters' death was announced, tributes on Friday poured in from famous friends, colleagues and fans.
- Oprah Winfrey led tributes, writing that she was "grateful" Walters had been "such a powerful and gracious role model".
- Walters died on Thursday. She was 93.
Legendary journalist and TV visionary Barbara Walters died on Thursday. She was 93.
In the hours after the iconic newswoman's death was announced, tributes on Friday poured in from famous friends, colleagues and fans.
Cindi Berger, Walters' rep, confirmed to People:
Fellow TV trailblazer Oprah Winfrey led tributes with a statement on Instagram, writing that she was "grateful" Walters had been "such a powerful and gracious role model".
"Without Barbara Walters, there wouldn't have been me—nor any other woman you see on evening, morning, and daily news. She was indeed a trailblazer," Oprah added.
Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger reflected on the "one-of-a-kind" legacy Walters leaves behind and sent condolences to her daughter, Jacqueline.
I have sad news to share today. Barbara Walters passed away this evening at her home in New York. pic.twitter.com/fxSyU6BQk4
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) December 31, 2022
Several tributes came in from co-hosts of The View, which Walters created in 1997.
Star Jones, one of The View's first-ever co-hosts, tweeted, "I owe Barbara Walters more than I could ever repay. Rest well, sister…mother…friend…colleague…mentor." Rosie O'Donnell simply called her former boss and colleague a "legend" on Instagram.
Former panellist Meghan McCain tweeted, in part, that Walters' "hard-hitting questions and welcoming demeanour made her a household name and leader in American journalism."
Barbara Walters will always be known as a trail blazer. Her hard hitting questions & welcoming demeanor made her a household name and leader in American journalism.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 31, 2022
Her creation of The View is something I will always be appreciative of. Rest in peace you will forever be an icon.
Michelle Collins, who co-hosted on the talk show for less than a year, shared a special View tradition in her tribute.
"One of the first rites of passage of becoming a host on The View was to have lunch with Barbara Walters," Collins tweeted. "Few times in my life have I been that nervous. She was an absolute trailblazer, class, elegance, smarts that are increasingly hard to come by. I'll always be grateful. RIP."
