Lisa Ling Is Coming Back to ‘The View’ 24 Years After Her Exit —Here’s Why She Left

Lisa Ling is making her comeback to The View. Well, as a guest co-host, at least.

The 53-year-old journalist announced her return on social media, along with her fond memories of the morning talk show, despite leaving after just three seasons in 2002. At the time, she worked alongside Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, and Joy Behar.

“Can’t believe this was 27 YEARS ago! It was 1999, and I was 26 years old! Still pinching myself that I worked alongside the great, Barbara Walters for three years,” she wrote. “Will be back as a guest co-host this Thursday and next Tuesday with a very different cast. Excited!”

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So, why did Ling leave The View in the first place?

According to Ling at the time, she left to focus on serious reporting. Before joining The View, Ling was a war correspondent at Channel One News. Shortly after her departure, she was named the host of National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, where she covered everything from the drug war in Colombia to North Korea.

However, it was claimed by Ramin Setoodeh, who wrote “Ladies Who Punch,” that Ling was actually fired.

“One of the things I uncovered in my reporting was that Lisa was actually fired from the show,” he told Salon. “We all thought as viewers Lisa wanted to move on and to do other kinds of reporting, but they felt that the numbers weren’t going up with Lisa at the table.”

Despite that allegation, Ling clearly has no ill will toward her The View family. She has returned to the show several times since her exit, and now will take a seat at the round table on Thursday, September 24, and Tuesday, September 29.

And fans can’t wait. “I was always LOCKED in back then when you were a co-host, someone who understood my point of ‘VIEW,’ which is why you are my favorite co-host divaaa,” one fan commented before another added, “You’re one of my favorite hosts @lisalingstagram you’re an icon!!!”