Barbara Walters confirmed that she would be announcing her retirement today on The View, and she kept her word. The veteran journalist revealed she will be retiring in the summer of 2014.
The 83-year-old said she will be retiring after over 50 years on the small screen, and denied it had anything to do with her health.
"Let me just say I have been on television continuously for over 50 years. But in the summer of '14 I plan to retire from appearing on television at all. ... I'm perfectly healthy. This is my decision. This is what I want to do," she said on Monday, People reports.
She continued, "I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead. I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women – and, okay, some men, too – who will be taking my place."
New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and Disney CEO Bob Iger were in the audience as she made the announcement.
Walters made journalistic history when she became the first woman to co-host a news program, on the Today Show in 1974. When she joined ABC Evening News two years later, she became the first woman co-host of an evening news program, NY Daily News reports.
In her announcement on Sunday, she said “I created The View and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it.”
image: INF Daily