BETTY White may have been loved by millions, but behind the scenes, the Hollywood legend’s relationships with some of her co-stars were far from rosy.
Several former colleagues have opened up about their turbulent dynamics with the late actress, revealing shocking details about secret feuds and strained connections.
Sally Struthers accused Betty of fat-shaming her[/caption]
Just this week, Sally Struthers accused Betty of fat-shaming her during their time on the hit show The Golden Girls.
According to Sally, her co-star would often comment on her weight, making her feel uncomfortable and self-conscious.
But it’s not just her who had an axe to grind with the star, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 99.
Here’s a look at Betty’s feuds with Sally, Bob Barker, and Bea Arthur.
Sally Struthers
Sally described Betty as “a very passive-aggressive woman”[/caption]
On Monday, Sally opened up about past interactions with the late iconic, revealing that her experiences with the beloved TV star weren’t always positive.
During the January 13th episode of Let’s Talk About That! hosted by Larry Saperstein and Jacob Bellotti, the actress reflected on her encounters with Betty.
Sally, best known for her role on All in the Family, explained that the exterior of the Golden Girls house was located “up the street” from her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
With that connection in mind, she said she felt ready to share her perspective on Betty.
Sally said, “Now that she’s gone, I want to talk about her. I know everybody loves her. They loved her so much. They signed petitions to get her to guest host Saturday Night Live. I know all that. I didn’t have such a great experience with her.”
She went on to describe Betty as “a very passive-aggressive woman”.
The Gilmore Girls star recounted a specific incident that took place at Betty’s home while they were working on a pilot for a new game show.
Sally said that during the visit, Betty asked her housekeeper to bring some snacks for the group.
“Then the plate was set in the middle, and it was cookies, I think,” Sally explained.
“So I reached for a cookie, and she said in front of everyone, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you, dear. You don’t need a cookie.’”
The comment left Sally feeling hurt.
“She totally fat-shamed me in front of the rest of the people in the room,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Gosh, that’s not nice.’”
Bob Barker
Bob Barker and Betty clashed in 2009 over the future of Billy, an elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo[/caption]
Bob Barker and Betty clashed in 2009 over the future of Billy, an elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo.
What began as a disagreement over animal welfare turned into a public feud that highlighted their opposing views on zoos and sanctuaries.
The conflict arose when Bob, a passionate animal rights advocate, pushed for Billy to be relocated to a sprawling sanctuary, believing the move would significantly improve the elephant’s quality of life.
Betty, a longtime supporter of zoos, argued that Billy’s place was at the L.A. Zoo, where she believed he could play a role in education and conservation efforts.
The tension reached its peak during the 2009 Game Show Awards. Bob, who was set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, threatened to boycott the event if Betty attended.
In response, she opted to record her remarks for the ceremony, ensuring his attendance without further confrontation.
Despite their differences, the two eventually reconciled.
By 2015, they were united in their criticism of Walter Palmer, the dentist who gained global infamy for killing Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.
Bea Arthur
Bea Arthur’s relationship with Betty may not have not as harmonious as their characters on the NBC sitcom[/caption]
The Golden Girls are pictured[/caption]
According to TV writer Stan Zimmerman’s 2024 book, The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore, Bea Arthur’s relationship with Betty was not as harmonious as their characters on the NBC sitcom.
Stan reflected on his time on set and shares insights into the dynamic between the two stars.
He wrote, “During our time on set, I never felt tension between the two. I only heard stories and recently learned, from producer Marsha Posner Williams on a podcast, that Bea thought Betty was two-faced.”
Stan elaborated further, adding, “Bea liked real people. I had the sense that Betty was more like Sue Ann Nivens, the character she played on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, than she was like Rose.
“More conniving than the innocent airhead from St. Olaf.”
And, in an episode of The Originals podcast, casting director Joel Thurm spilled some tea about the tension.
During the April 2021 interview, Joel recalled hearing some shocking remarks, insisting: “Bea literally called Betty the C-word. I heard it myself.”
He also shared that Rue McClanahan used the same slur when speaking about Betty in his presence.
