Bea Arthur called Betty White a ‘c–t' often, ‘Golden Girls' producer claims — why'd they clash?
Not so golden.
'Golden Girls' co-producer Marsha Posner Williams opened up about Betty White and Bea Arthur's rumored feud during an event celebrating the hit sitcom's 40th anniversary in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
'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,' she said, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Williams recalled that Arthur 'used to call me at home and say, 'I just ran into that [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.''
11 Bea Arthur, left, and Betty White, right, in 'The Golden Girls.'
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The producer continued, '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 [to describe White].'
'The Golden Girls' aired aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992, following four older single women sharing a home in Florida while navigating their 'golden' years. There was Southern Belle widow Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Minnesota born widow, Rose (White), Brooklyn born divorcee Dorothy (Arthur), and Dorothy's Sicilian mother, Sophia (Estelle Getty).
11 Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty in 'The Golden Girls.'
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11 Beatrice Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Betty White arrive at the 6th annual 'TV Land Awards' held at Barker Hangar on June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.
Todd Williamson
Getty died in 2008 at age 84, McClanahan died in 2010 at age 76, White died in 2021 at age 99, and Arthur died in 2009 at age 86.
Producers speculated about the source of White and Arthur's animosity. Co-producer Jim Vallely said he thought it was because White got more applause during cast introductions.
But, Williams, disagreed, and thought they clashed over their different backgrounds, since Arthur had a theater background while White came from TV.
11 Rye McClanahan, Betty White, and Bea Arthur in 'The Golden Girls.'
Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
11 Betty White and Bea Arthur in 'The Golden Girls.'
Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
It's also previously been speculated that the feud came from jealousy, as White was the show's first cast member to be nominated for a Best Actress Emmy in 1986.
In the 2016-published 'Golden Girls Forever' biography, author Jim Colucci noted that Arthur remained in character during taping, while White relaxed between shots and joked around with the live studio audience.
'I think my mom didn't dig that,' Arthur's adopted son, Matthew Saks, told the Hollywood Reporter in 2016, seven years after she died of cancer at 86. 'It's more about being focused or conserving your energy. It's just not the right time to talk to fans between takes. Betty was able to do it and it didn't seem to affect her. But it rubbed my mom the wrong way.'
11 Betty White and Bea Arthur sign copies of 'The Golden Gilrs Season 3' DVD at Barnes & Noble on November 22, 2005 in New York City.
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11 Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty in 1992.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
White revealed her side of the story in 2011, saying in an interview, '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!'
This isn't the first time this allegation of Arthur using the c-word has surfaced. During a 2022 episode of The Originals podcast, the show's casting director, Joel Thurm, said, 'Literally Bea Arthur, who I cast in something else later on, just said, 'Oh, she's a f–king c–t,' using that word [about White].'
'Bea Arthur called Betty White a C-word?' podcast host Andrew Goldman asked in the interview.
11 Bea Arthur, Betty White and Estelle Getty during 48th Golden Apple Awards at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California in 1988.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
11 Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in 'The Golden Girls.'
Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
'Yeah, she called her the C-word. I mean, I heard that with my own ears,' Thurm said. 'And by the way, so did Rue McClanahan. Rue McClanahan said it to me in Joe Allen's [restaurant]; Bea Arthur [when she was] on the set of 'Beggars and Choosers.' '
Thrum recalled how Getty — who died in 2008 at 84 from Lewy body dementia — began having issues memorizing her lines on-set.
'And she would write the lines on her hand, and … Betty White would make fun of her in front of the live audience,' he said. 'That may seem like a minor transgression, but it really does get to you … I have no idea how Estelle Getty felt, but I know the other two did not like [White] at all.'
11 Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo; Bea Arthur as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak; Betty White as Rose Nylund; Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux in 'The Golden Girls.'
NBCUniversal via Getty Images
11 Estelle Getty, Betty White, and Beatrice Arthur of the Golden Girls pictured in New York City in 1986.
Corbis via Getty Images
During Wednesday night's event, Williams recalled that tensions between White and Arthur were also present on set.
'Betty would break character in the middle of the show [and talk to the live audience], and Bea hated that,' she said.
Williams also said that the rest of the cast was game to continue past seven seasons, but Arthur was the one who wanted to end it.
'The show would have continued after seven years. Their contracts were up and … the executives went to the ladies, and Estelle said, 'Yes, let's keep going,' and Rue said, 'Yes let's keep going,' and Betty said, 'Yes, let's keep going,'' she recalled.
But, she added, 'And Bea said, 'No f—ing way,' and that's why that show didn't continue.'
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