Here Is The Deal With Betty White & Bea Arthur

[ethelmaepotter]

I've seen so much crapola online about the relationship between Betty White & Bea Arthur, I wanted to clear some things up because I knew both ladies, but was closer to Betty White. Because I am closer to Betty, do not assume this is a one-sided statement of the facts. It is simply a statement of the facts:

1. Betty White and Bea Arthur detested each other. The dislike began even before "The Golden Girls" as they both knew each other somewhat, having similar friends and connections.

2. You must understand both Betty & Bea have their good qualities, but both are women who have spent decades in something called show business, which makes you a cold, hard pissed off MF...if you know what I mean. Every major star harbors bitterness at things that have happened to them in this business, losing out on good parts, getting smaller paychecks than they should have, etc.

3. Betty White is not purely innocent. And Bea Arthur was one tough old broad with an acid tongue. She was frank and honest, sometimes not at the right times.

4. Finally, here is the biggie: Betty and Bea were really the big-name stars when Golden Girls began. No one heard of Estelle Getty and Rue had been on Maude, but hardly a household name. While there was a lot of behind the scenes that went on that I won't get into, Bea Arthur was officially labeled the star of "The Golden Girls"...NOT Betty White. Bea was considered the only star because Bea received a percentage of the series profits in syndication, even after her terms of residuals as an actress had ran out. Betty did not have the same deal. Thus, tremendous resentment grew between the actresses. And, both Bea and Betty had similar names for each other.

That is the story. They hated each other out of the gate and it grew and grew. Also, for the first couple of years, Bea was less than kind to Estelle and Rue was withdrawn mostly.

[Marvo301]

Thanks for sharing this with us. It's too bad these ladies couldn't have found a way to get along with each other but I guess that's just how life is sometimes.

[andress_jade]

I find that hard to believe but you did say that you knew Betty personally. The reason why I find that hard to believe was that on the last episode when Bea left, they were all very sad and they all cried. Not just onscreen but offscreen as well. The tears we saw were real tears. That didn't look like the tears of someone who hated the person who was leaving.
After Bea's death, there was an article written about her death and Rue and Betty's reactions to it. Both Rue and Betty were devastated with Bea's death, again it didn't sound like someone who hated the person who died.
I am not saying you aren't telling the truth, I am just saying what I have seen and what you have said and they don't match at all.
I was a big fan of the Golden Girls and to me, I never got the impression that they didn't get along. Even in the blooper reel, they got along.
Bea and Betty always seemed the best of friends to me. I don't think I could work that closely with someone I didn't like for so long. I have worked with someone I didn't like and finally had to quit. If Bea and Betty really hated each other that much, one or the other would have left before there was ever a seventh season. Just my observation.

[angel676]

I have a question, which I doubt can be answered, but it's worth a shot! If Bea and Betty detested each other before GG, why would they agree to be on the same show with each other???

[Benny JR]

Originally Posted by andress_jade

I find that hard to believe but you did say that you knew Betty personally. The reason why I find that hard to believe was that on the last episode when Bea left, they were all very sad and they all cried. Not just onscreen but offscreen as well. The tears we saw were real tears. That didn't look like the tears of someone who hated the person who was leaving.
After Bea's death, there was an article written about her death and Rue and Betty's reactions to it. Both Rue and Betty were devastated with Bea's death, again it didn't sound like someone who hated the person who died.
I am not saying you aren't telling the truth, I am just saying what I have seen and what you have said and they don't match at all.
I was a big fan of the Golden Girls and to me, I never got the impression that they didn't get along. Even in the blooper reel, they got along.
Bea and Betty always seemed the best of friends to me. I don't think I could work that closely with someone I didn't like for so long. I have worked with someone I didn't like and finally had to quit. If Bea and Betty really hated each other that much, one or the other would have left before there was ever a seventh season. Just my observation.

TOTALLY agree with what you just said! I never got the impression that they did not get along and I wonder how this person 'knows' Betty White?

[Benny JR]

Originally Posted by angel676

I have a question, which I doubt can be answered, but it's worth a shot! If Bea and Betty detested each other before GG, why would they agree to be on the same show with each other???

Well said! My question is how does the person who started this thread 'know' Betty White exactly? What was it, a chance meeting with her years ago, a fan letter, what?

[ratherbwatchinGG]

Originally Posted by angel676

I have a question, which I doubt can be answered, but it's worth a shot! If Bea and Betty detested each other before GG, why would they agree to be on the same show with each other???

Precisley..not only for the first five years but agree to another two. I can't say that they were the best of friends no one has to be to work together but I can't quite believe the hatred was so strong there. Bea's contract was up after 5 years and she extended it another 2...why do that if the feelings are so strong? I know I couldn't that...no matter how sweet the deal.

[Scoobiedoo30]

Yes Thanks for shareing

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by ethelmaepotter

I've seen so much crapola online about the relationship between Betty White & Bea Arthur, I wanted to clear some things up because I knew both ladies, but was closer to Betty White. Because I am closer to Betty, do not assume this is a one-sided statement of the facts. It is simply a statement of the facts:

How can you claim to know and be as close to Betty White as you say you are when a year ago you stated in another post that you had a friend who was a friend of Betty's?

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...01#post3966401

Originally Posted by ethelmaepotter

I just have to say that I have a friend who is a friend of Betty White's. Awhile back, she signed my copy of the first season DVD of The Golden Girls and I had a chance to meet with her. I will tell you, for a woman her age, she is as bright and vivacious as ever. I have always adored Betty White and meeting her just makes me love her more. I have met many celebrities in my life, having worked in entertainment for a long time, and most of them are huge disappointments. However, meeting Betty White and a few years back, Carol Burnett, was a privilege and an honor.

This post which was made about a year ago and your current one seem to contradict each other. Just because you met Betty White and had your dvd signed doesn't mean you actually know and are close to the woman and from the way you've tried to "clear things up" as you put it, You're speaking as though you've known her for years. In that post you said that you had a chance to meet with her, You said nothing about knowing her personally nor being close to her. There's a big difference between meeting a person and actually being close to them and it's no different with a celebrity.

Originally Posted by ethelmaepotter

Finally, here is the biggie: Betty and Bea were really the big-name stars when Golden Girls began.

No biggie there, That's common knowledge to anyone that watched the show.

[shipoopi]

I took a picture of Betty White in January 1993 while she was the "Star of the Day" at the Disney-MGM Studios daily parade.

She was looking away as she approached my position, so I screamed at the top of my lungs: "BETTY!" She whipped around to see what the hell was the matter and that's when I took her picture.

When the film was developed I had captured a great baffled look on her face - priceless.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

How can you claim to know and be as close to Betty White as you say you are when a year ago you stated in another post that you had a friend who was a friend of Betty's?

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...01#post3966401




This post which was made about a year ago and your current one seem to contradict each other. Just because you met Betty White and had your dvd signed doesn't mean you actually know and are close to the woman and from the way you've tried to "clear things up" as you put it, You're speaking as though you've known her for years. In that post you said that you had a chance to meet with her, You said nothing about knowing her personally nor being close to her. There's a big difference between meeting a person and actually being close to them and it's no different with a celebrity.







No biggie there, That's common knowledge to anyone that watched the show.

Great find Charles. I had a hard time believing this person anyway. As some others said, why would they even consider working with each other if they hated each other so much. All the time that the GG aired, I never heard of any backstage feud. They might not have been close but I find it hard to believe there was so much hate between them. And of course they were the big name stars on the show. I knew Rue McClanahan from Maude and Mama's Family but she wasn't as big of a name at the time. I never even heard of Estelle Getty before.

[mattc]

This is bogus for sure. I read Rue's autobiography, and she mentions that their relationship (Betty and Bea's) was not "what I would have liked," but she did say that Bea and Betty had lunch together everyday, and that there was no resentment on the set.

Also, when you watch the bloopers vid of GG, you can see Bea and Betty laughing with each other, and at one point, Bea laughs and leans on Betty's lap.. hardly the type of action of two people who "detest" each other.

My gut instinct, after watching interviews with both ladies, is that Bea has an ego, and did not like that Betty won the emmy first (something even Rue admitted in her book), and was nominated every year. Bea also didn't like that she was the the last one to win the emmy. Rue has stated in interviews that Bea was used to being the star of a show (maude), and this makes me feel that she was annoyed that GG was an ensemble.

Obviously Bea is incredibly talented, but it sort of sucks to hear this stuff, as it really does come off that Bea was an arrogant entertainer who felt shafted at times and was into being "the lead" of the show.

[ratherbwatchinGG]

I wouldn't put much into what Rue says either. I know she was there but she also says in one of her interviews that the reason Maude ended was that SHE was offered a show. If Bea was used to being the star of the show why stay with GG for 7 years?

It's been said many times over that Bea was terribly shy and very sensitive (not lending much credence to being very arrogant). What Bea was, was brutally honest. There may or may not have been a queeze in their relationship but the only people who can say are Bea and Betty. Bea can no longer say and Betty is not saying.

I'm sure not winning an emmy hurts, especially when you feel you have put your best work forward. Seeing your colleagues win can be a bit unsettling for anyone with any type of personality or ego. BTW - we all have egos!

[tunameltd]

With all the wonderful things Miss Arthur has done in her life, wouldn't it be great to see her final interview, in HER OWN WORDS talking about her career etc.

I found this clip of Bea Arthur's final interview. The clip also show Betty White, Carol Channing and Phyllis Diller.

We need to contact Merv Griffin Productions and see if entire interview will be aired. An email that was given to me was:

roy_bank@griffingroup.com


I'd hate for an full interview with Bea or the other legendary ladies in the clip to go unseen.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqTi7rsk3GY

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by angel676

I have a question, which I doubt can be answered, but it's worth a shot! If Bea and Betty detested each other before GG, why would they agree to be on the same show with each other???

$$$

Money talks.

And they needed a job.

Do you get along with everyone you work with?