Veteran music star Barry Manilow has pulled out of an appearance on a US TV talk show because he disagrees with the host’s political views.
Manilow requested not to be interviewed by former reality show star Elisabeth Hasselbeck – known for her conservative views on abortion and the Iraq war.
The singer, a fundraiser for the Democrat party, said on his website: “I cannot compromise my beliefs.”
He was set to promote his new album, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies.
“I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be on The View tomorrow as scheduled,” the star wrote.
Campaign donations
“I had made a request that I be interviewed by Joy [Behar], Barbara [Walters] or Whoopi [Goldberg] but not Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
“Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple request, so I bowed out,” he continued.
It has been reported that the 64-year-old singer has donated money to the presidential campaigns of Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joseph Biden and John Edwards, as well as Ron Paul, a maverick Texas Republican.
Manilow, who has appeared on The View twice in the past year with Hasselbeck present, said: “It’s really too bad, because I’ve always been a big supporter of the show, but I cannot compromise my beliefs.
“The good news is I will be on a whole slew of other shows promoting the new album, so I hope you can catch me on those.”
Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s new baby.Photos of The View host Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s new baby and his name revealed.