Star Jones

Star Jones returned to The View Wednesday.

It was her first visit to the ABC talk show since her much talked-about departure in June 2006, and the topic was one of the first to come up yesterday.

"It was ugly. Everything. It was a bad emotional time. Nasty things were being said in the media," Jones said after Barbara Walters brought up her exit.

At the time, Star Jones abruptly announced she was leaving The View on the air, then revealed she had in fact been fired by the daytime gab-fest.

Star Jones on The View (2012)

"I wanted to go out on my own terms so that if I walked back here I'd feel good about it," Jones continued. "I had eight fantastic years here. One was 'eh.'"

"I came back here to congratulate you on everything that you all have accomplished. And I hope you congratulate me on what I accomplished."

Walters and Joy Behar also asked Jones, who came on the show to raise awareness about women's heart health, about her 2003 gastric bypass surgery.

Jones had long kept secret the reasons behind her 160 lb.-weight loss.

"We tried to protect you. We were told, 'Don't say it was gastric [bypass]. Say it was pilates and portion control,'" Behar said, before adding:

"You are now a skinny bitch ... Congratulations." "We did lie for you!" Walters added, to which Jones responded, "Who cares? I look good."

Looks like Star Jones has someone to worry about aside from NeNe Leakes: her ex-husband.

The former talk show host, who feuded for weeks with NeNe on Celebrity Apprentice, is being sued by ex-husband Al Reynolds for $50,000. The cause of his legal distress? Star's alleged violation of a clause in their divorce settlement that stipulated neither could publicly insult the other.

But Jones went on the March 25 edition of The Wendy Williams Show and said: "The wedding was fabulous, but the marriage was kind of a booty."

Reynolds had a feeling from the outset that his marriage was doomed.

"The unnecessary and disparaging statements made over the years regarding their marriage to mutual friends, in TV and print interviews and tweets must stop;" said Reynolds' publicist. "And if Al filing paperwork utilizing the very clause that Star wanted in the divorce decree is used to stop her from the constant blasphemy of Al and their marriage vows, then so be it."

Moreover, through his rep, Al denied the charge that he's actually dating Leakes. That would be gross.

The drama heated up on The Celebrity Apprentice this week, with a double firing - Star Jones and LaToya Jackson - and a third cast member quitting!

NeNe Leakes, the one who peaced out, has plenty to say about it.

In the aftermath of the explosive episode, NeNe is going off on Donald Trump, saying she "feels good" about leaving since Trump disrespected her.

NeNe reaming out Star has become a highlight of the current season, with Leakes alleging her counterpart has been disingenuous and unreasonable.

Jones, for her part, tried to paint her adversary as a reality TV loudmouth.

"Trump was doing things to accommodate Star and not me," she said. "All of the manipulating ... was very toxic. It was a very toxic situation."

NeNe Leakes exploded on Star Jones last night in the latest chapter of their season long Celebrity Apprentice catfight, leaving even Donald Trump speechless.

A first, we know.

When the "ladies" were tasked with putting on a hair show for Trump and Co., NeNe quickly lashed out at "manipulative" Star for demanding Leakes be the week's Project Manager without consulting with the team  members first ...

NeNe vs. Star on Celebrity Apprentice

"Who f--king died and made you in charge of project managers?" Leakes snapped, labeling lousy teammate Hope Dworaczyk Jones' "puppet." Ouch.

Leakes' final zinger after thoroughly berating star and just before they went to work on their task? "Now where's Barbara Walters?! Punk a-- bitch!"

Were it not for the break in The Apprentice to inform us that Osama bin Laden is dead, this would've been the most shocking thing on TV last night.

The claws are permanently out for NeNe Leakes.

During an appearance on Ellen that airs today, the Real Housewife and Celebrity Apprentice star was asked about nemesis Star Jones. The two have been feuding since the return of Donald Trump's reality show this month.

How does Leakes truly see Jones?

"She is bossy, she is manipulative, conniving. And I'm not even being funny," NeNe told the host. "I think that is real. I honestly think that is who she is."

But didn't the pair start out as friends? What happened?

So much for a truce.

The feud between NeNe Leakes and Star Jones, which started on this season of Celebrity Apprentice, has officially turned vicious and personal. An insider tells Pop Eater that the Real Housewife of Atlanta has been getting close to Star's ex husband, Al Reynolds.

"Star thinks it's pathetic that these two has-beens have teamed up together," a friend says. "NeNe knows how much pain and hurt that man caused Star. For NeNe to suddenly befriend him tells you exactly what sort of woman she really is."

Reynolds, a banker, and Jones, a former co-host on The View, filed for divorce in 2008.

This source isn't exactly a fan of the former, saying of Al:

"[He] will do anything to get back into the press, including hanging out with reality stars. But to be getting close and personal with a woman who has publicly stated she wouldn't spit on your ex-wife if she was on fire is just desperate."

Headstrong Celebrity Apprentice stars NeNe Leakes and Star Jones are trying to mend fences after a feud between them erupted earlier this week.

Star went off on Nene and Lisa Rinna earlier this week amid reports that the divas actually came to physical blows on Donald Trump’s show.

But even they realize the danger of this getting out of hand.

“Both NeNe and Star are trying to get along better off set," a source said. "It was really only when taping started that their competitiveness kicked in."

“NeNe felt slighted by Star, calling her a back stabber and thought was not showing her enough respect – while Star believed NeNe was a phony."

“NeNe believed Star was trying to boss the other contestants around and on top of that they were feuding over hair, wardrobe and make-up too."

“But they're trying to be more accepting of their differences now, although producers want to ramp-up their rivalry when the cameras are rolling.”

Sounds like they're both taking the high road ... but ratings losing out to respect, manners and sound judgment? We'll believe it when we see it.

[Photos: Fame Pictures]

Seriously, can anyone out there stand Star Jones? Anyone at all?

We ask this question in light of the recent stirs created by this former talk show host on the latest season of Celebrity Apprentice.

Referred to as a "back stabber" by co-star NeNe Leakes, Jones tried to hold back in an interview with Daytime Confidential, but ended up going off and saying:

"We're not on the same level. Lets make that clear. We're on the same show... In all honesty, I would never compare myself to another African-American woman. I would never tear down another African-American woman in order to elevate myself. Cream rises to the top and water seeks its own level."

Well, okay then.

Jones has also been feuding with Lisa Rinna, who was eliminated from the show on Sunday night.

The latest season of Celebrity Apprentice may have debuted last night, but NeNe Leakes didn't wait until the premiere to tell the world how she feels about Star Jones.

"Star's not nice," Leakes said on The Talk last week. "Anybody who has ever worked with her would side with me. She's not a nice person. She's a witch... with a 'b' in front."

Describing Jones as a "back stabber," Leakes added during a conference call with reporters: "There are a lot of people who don't like Star, so I won't be the only one."

Possible 2012 Presidential nominee/reality show host Donald Trump must love this contrived feud, which can only ratchet up ratings for his beloved show.

Where does Jones stand on the rivalry? She told journalists:

"I did Celebrity Apprentice to raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association, which has been instrumental in my life, not to see it reduced to a cliché where black women attack one another for publicity's sake. I haven't made any comments in hopes that she would remember that we all participated in this show for charity and not as a vehicle to promote ourselves and such hatred. I was clearly wrong and I decided to finally respond."

Lost in the shuffle amid Tiger Woods interviews and an alleged Jesse James Nazi photo was the fact that Star Jones had major heart surgery. Fortunately, she's fine.

"On Wednesday, March 17, a cardiac surgery was performed on Star Jones," her rep said. "This surgery is a follow-up to the thoracic surgery she had 30 years ago."

The operation was pre-planned, and by all accounts went well.

"The procedure was successful and she is recovering well with her family. Star is grateful for everyone's thoughts and prayers," the rep for the TV personality said.

Here's wishing Star a speedy recovery from her heart surgery.

Star Jones' heart surgery was a success, thankfully!