Barbara Walters’ biggest regret over motherhood revealed after Oprah admitted star put her off having kids

In a touching new documentary, Barbara Walters‘ ongoing regret about the strained bond she shared with her daughter has come to light.

The late broadcaster, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 93, is the subject of the latest Hulu production titled “Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything.” This movie delves into the life story of this renowned figure, depicting her journey to stardom while juggling motherhood and her professional commitments.

Walters felt remorseful about her personal life with her adoptive daughter Jackie, as well as their tense connection, according to Cynthia McFadden, a longtime friend and collaborator, who shared this information before the movie’s premiere.

The ex-NBC News correspondent expressed that it was something she found herself unable to resolve, which was deeply troubling to her.

1976 marked the historical moment when Walters became the first female co-anchor, partnering with Harry Reasoner, on the ABC Evening News, starting her journey as a nightly news broadcaster after initially working as a Today show correspondent.

1979 marked the beginning of her shared hosting role on the weekly news program, 20/20. She became skilled at conducting interviews with famous personalities, leading to the occasional production of special episodes focused on these individuals.

It turned out that a lot of fans weren’t aware that Walters, back in 1968, had adopted her daughter, Jackie, alongside her second spouse, Lee Gruber. They parted ways in 1976 as their marriage ended.

The documentary contains old recordings where Walters is seen discussing the joy she felt as a mother. She said, “Everything fell into place for me. I was already a part of the Today Show, and I’d experienced three miscarriages, but now I have it all.

But her success at work meant time away from her family. 

Barbara often found herself jetting off to various locations, conducting interviews, as McFadden explained to the media outlet. It wasn’t feasible for her to bring her young child along on these trips.

A recent excerpt shows the hardships Walters encountered. These days, bringing children to work is more accepted. Yet, back then, if she had brought Jackie into the studio, it would have been like having an untrained dog, as she explains in the clip.

The mother and daughter displayed distinct personalities. While Walters yearned for Jackie to emulate her career-oriented mindset, as reported by a friend, Jackie grappled with challenges of her own, such as drug problems.

McFadden stated that it was indeed a challenging situation. Yet, he clarified that this doesn’t mean there was any lack of affection between them. However, it wasn’t the scenario she had envisioned, and likely not the one Jackie had hoped for as well.

She stated that Jackie should not bear responsibility for any of this, as even Barbara herself would not want her to. In this situation, it seems the adults are at fault. Nevertheless, Jackie is an enjoyable individual, she added.

McFadden, an adoptee herself, delved into the topic of adoption during her segment and inquired from Jackie about what she found more challenging: being adopted or being the daughter of Barbara Walters?

‘Being Barbara Walters’s daughter.,’ was her immediate reply. 

In the interview with People magazine, the film’s director, Jackie Jesko, expressed a desire for Barbara Walters’ personal challenges not to eclipse her achievements when “Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything” premieres on Hulu on June 23rd.

Oprah Winfrey shared a memory where the influential figure advised her to consider having children, saying something along the lines of, “You truly ought to ponder the joy that comes from having children.

‘And I was like, “Okay, but I’m looking at you, so, no,”‘ the former talk show host continued.

In my perspective, Oprah characterized Barbara’s bond with her daughter as intricate and intense. She mentioned this connection as one of the factors that led me to decide not to have children myself.

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2025-06-13 18:35