The Battle of the Media Bigwigs

Dec. 22, 2006 — -- For those who love a celebrity fight, Christmas came early this year.

The feud between Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump has turned into a name-calling, finger-pointing, knock-down-drag-out brawl.

It all started when Trump granted wayward Miss USA Tara Conner a second chance.

"I have always believed in second chances," he said at a news conference on Tuesday.

The next day, O'Donnell lashed out at Trump on "The View."

"There he is with his looping hair talking about second chances," O'Donnell said. "He left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America. Sit and spin, Donald!"

O'Donnell also took a jab at what some might consider Trump's most prized possession -- his money. She said the real estate mogul had gone bankrupt multiple times.

Trump shot back and threatened to sue O'Donnell.

"Rosie O'Donnell is disgusting, I mean both inside and out," Trump said on the syndicated entertainment show "The Insider."

"Take a look at her. She's a slob. She talks like a truck driver. … I never went bankrupt, but she said I went bankrupt. So probably I'll sue her because it would be fun. I'd like to take some money out of her fat-a-- pockets," he said.

In the middle of all the mudslinging, is it possible one media titan could win this feud?

Probably not, says crisis management consultant Eric Dezenhall.

"I think these celebrity battles serve to remind people how little in common celebrities have with the rest of us," Dezenhall said.

Now, another media bigwig is weighing in.

ABC News' Barbara Walters, the executive producer of "The View," released a written statement Thursday.

"Donald Trump is a personal friend of mine and has been a good friend to 'The View' for many years," the statement said. "I'm sorry there is friction between Donald and Rosie."

"That said," the statement said, "I do not regret for one moment my choice to hire Rosie O'Donnell as the moderator of 'The View.' I certainly hope and expect that this tempest will pass quickly."