Writers, co-producers, and others from the crew joined the Pride LIVE! Hollywood Panel in June, where they reminisced over the series, which ran on NBC for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992.
A particular hot topic addressed was rumors surrounding Bea Arthur and Betty White’s supposed feud.
“When that red light was on [and the show was filming], there were no more professional people than those women, but when the red light was off, those two couldn’t warm up to each other if they were cremated together,” co-producer Marsha Posner Williams revealed.
She also said the co-stars didn’t hold back about their feelings and used some vulgar language when referring to one another.
[Bea] used to call me at home and say, ‘I just ran into that c’” — Marsha talking about Betty using the c-word — “at the grocery store. I’m gonna write her a letter,’ and I said, ‘Bea, just get over it for crying out loud. Just get past it.’”
The panelists then revealed that their foul jabs weren’t a one-time occurrence, as Bea used to repeatedly call her co-star the c-word in front of the crew.
“I remember my husband and I went over to Bea’s house a couple of times for dinner. Within 30 seconds of walking in the door, the c-word came out,” Marsha said, while casting director Joel Thurm confirmed he also heard Bea call Betty that while sitting beside her on a flight.
Everyone, however, had different theories as to why the two couldn’t get along, but some suggest their feud was the reason the show ended.
“The show would have continued after seven years,” Marsha said.
“Their contracts were up and … the executives went to the ladies, and Estelle [Getty] said, ‘Yes, let’s keep going,’ and Rue [McClanahan] said, ‘Yes, let’s keep going,’ and Betty said, ‘Yes, let’s keep going.’ And Bea said, ‘no f***ing way,’ and that’s why that show didn’t continue…
“And Betty would break character in the middle of the show [and talk to the live audience], and Bea hated that,” she recalled.
Some previously speculated that their feud was fueled by jealousy, since Betty was the first of the group to be cast.
She was also the first cast member to be nominated for a Best Actress Emmy award for her role in 1986.
However, the duo’s different acting styles were thought to be a significant factor in their divide, as Betty typically relaxed and mingled with the audience between takes, while Bea stayed in character.
Betty discussed this in a 2011 interview, saying, “Bea had a reserve. She was not that fond of me. She found me a pain in the neck sometimes. It was my positive attitude — and that made Bea mad sometimes. Sometimes if I was happy, she’d be furious!”
Both actresses have since passed away – Bea in 2009 and Betty just before her 100th birthday in December 2021 – but chatter about their feud has re-emerged amid the show’s 40th anniversary.