Star Jones On Former ‘View' Co-Hosts: ‘Those Girls Were Hateful'

Star Jones is speaking out about her departure from “The View,” her divorce from Al Reynolds and what fans can expect from her next — and she’s not holding anything back!

“Star is back,” she told Essence magazine in their November issue. “I have now proven to myself that whatever life throws at me, I can catch it and I can throw it right back. I’m confident again.”

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The television personality said she has finally regained her confidence after years of personal turmoil.

While on “The View,” Star contended with the media’s constant scrutinizing of her weight, which she refers to as “mean spirited,” along with strife with her “View” co-hosts.

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After she announced she was leaving the show in 2006, Star said her fellow daytime chatters turned on her as she made her exit.

“Those girls were hateful,” Star said of the daytime cohorts.

Before leaving, Star dealt with depression related to her weight.

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“I ate the whole time,” she revealed. “I ate in my room alone. And I got fatter and fatter.”

After a trip to Jamaica, Star took the advice of a friend and got gastric bypass surgery in 2003, a procedure that Star credits with keeping her alive.

“That surgery saved my life,” she said. “I know some people say, ‘She did it the easy way.’ But it has been the hardest struggle of my life to get healthy.”

She might not regret having the surgery, but Star does have misgivings about not initially telling her fans about the surgery.

“I should have told them… there would not have been a backlash,” she said.

Following Star’s departure, she became embroiled in a war of words with Barbara Walters, had her Court TV show cancelled and divorced husband Al Reynolds — all which took a major toll on the TV personality.

“I knew I couldn’t spend another day in New York, I felt myself falling into a depression,” she revealed.

Star was able to put her life back together with a summer trip to Italy with friends — including singer Natalie Cole.

Star is now in talks to return to television in a non-scripted series, and says she’s also ready to give love another try.

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