Hasselbeck Accused of No Original Thoughts

Elisabeth Hasselbeck ripped off a woman by plagiarizing her disease material -- so claims Susan Hassett, who fired off a letter to "The View" host just before suing her.

Elisabteh Hasselbeck Click to view docs

We obtained the letter -- in which Susan claims she sent Elisabeth a book called "Living with Celiac Disease" back in April of '08. Thirteen months later, Susan says Hasselbeck published the same book with a new title: "The G Free Diet-A Gluten Free Survival Guide." Yes, the title sucks.

Susan compares chapters and lines. Here are some highlights.

Susan's Book Chapter 1: What is Celiac Disease?
Hasselbeck Chapter 2: What is Celiac Disease?

Susan's tips: "Shop in the outer isles of the supermarket."
Hasselbeck's tips: "Food in the outer isles of the supermarket."

And the comparisons go on and on.

Susan just sued Elisabeth for copyright infringement and plagiarism.

UPDATE: We've just obtained a statement from Elisabeth's people: "Neither Center Street nor Elisabeth Hasselbeck has been served with the Complain in this action. However, there is no basis for the allegations in the Complaint as published in the press. Ms. Hasselbeck worked diligently and tirelessly on her book and is disappointed in this attempt to discredit her work and her ability to bring this important message to the public."

Tags: book, elisabeth, hasselbeck, living with celiac disease, LivingWithCeliacDisease, plagiarism, susan hassett, SusanHassett

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(Page 3 of 9) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. She's a right wingnut--what would you expect? She grates on my very last nerve. Go to work for Rupert Murdock ala Faux news, You and old O"Reilly, Beck and Hannity would be hilarious.

Posted at 5:25PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by Lizzysucks

32. I am really enjoying reading her new book and find it very helpful to hear about the struggles of another young women dealing with the disease! The information included in this book is very similar to the other GF books out there, but that is because you can only explain things so many ways. This lady should not try to gain from the work and effort Elizabeth put in to this and should just get over it or ask for a free signed copy of the G Free Diet book!!!

Posted at 6:02PM on Jun 25th 2009 by Julie Barman

33. THE TRUTH #4 IS YOU LOST YOUR LICENSE TO PRACTICE FOR BEING A DRUNK
SO YOU CAN NOT JUDGE THIS CASE..

Posted at 12:34PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by JUSTPUT THE BOTTLE DOWN

34. U Go Susan......I can't stand Elisabeth and no longer watch the view because of HER.

Posted at 12:36PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by TorontoPerezFan

35. Yeah, I don't see the plagiarism. Even if she used Hasset's book as a source.. she didn't plagiarize it. All celiac disease/gluten free diet books have chapters on symptoms, shopping, and kids with the disease. People are just money hungry.

Posted at 1:03PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by T

36. Didn't Ann Coulter also get accused of plariarism? What is it with these lying, stealing blondes for Bush skanks?

Posted at 12:49PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by Renford

37. ALWAYS THOUGHT ELIZABITCH HASSELPECKERWOOD WAS AS STUPID AS HER USED TAMPON!

Posted at 12:47PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by bARBARA wATERS

38. TMZ, E, Entertainment tonight, they will all tell us the same lame stories today, yesterday, everyday. So much for original thoughts? Once in a while one of them MIGHT be '1st' on a breaking camel toe story (go tmz!) Sad thing is, they have no original thoughts on the same lame stories at least this was an ATTEMPT to help ppl with celiac's. If that fell short of 'help' then maybe that should be the discussion. I guess her attempt not being in a hateful mean spirit as the pap's.... who help tear apart families (jon&kate) or report on some actors spouse, you know the same old same, regurgitated non-stories. You go EH you're in good company if you did share a same story, right TMZ?

Posted at 12:52PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by bella

39. Elisabeth experienced her most relevant days as an 80-pound waif on Survivor Australia. Many people who watched her then, adored her, as she was just so lovable and cute, but I believe that her stardom has faded since. Don't misunderstand (as opposed to "misunderestimate"), she is still a nice looking young woman, I am just not sure as to what her major contribution to society is at this point. I've not seen or read either book, and don't plan to. Just not my type of reading material, as I believe that it would require a specific, dedicated audience. Everyone, enjoy your happy day ! ! !

Posted at 1:06PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by bearcub

40. Wow. I'm no lawyer, and I certainly won't be the judge in the case, but when reading the letter, I was amazed to see that BOTH books apparently share the same misspelling -- both books used "isle" instead of "aisle" to mean "supermarket aisle"; but "isle" is short for "island." If that wasn't just an error in the letter, and if I were the judge, I'd be taking a hard, HARD look at that similarity -- especially since since Hassett's book was self-published (some typos and minor errors are expected in a self-pubbed book), and Elizabeth Hasselbeck's was published by a major commercial publisher -- meaning it would have been (should have been) carefully edited several times before publication, so should have contained few or no errors. But yet, that *particular *identical error appears in the big-name-published book. And then there's the "similar chapter titles" jolt to consider. Personal opinion? I think Elizabeth Hasselbeck's attorney is going to have to work a little harder than for most celebrity authors to prove "no plagiarism."

Posted at 1:55PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by BettyBoop

41. What is it with you liberals. None of you can stand the truth

Posted at 1:17PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by Deew

42. I'm not sure the other author has a strong cased based on those facts, but I did find the book very informative. Both my sister & I found it very helpful.

Posted at 1:30PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by Lindz

43. The problem with fame is that once you get a taste you'll do anything to keep yourself in the spotlight (just look at evolution of Kate Gosselin). Hasselbeck flipped her forgettable reality show appearance into a A-list daytime hosting gig, and I have no difficulty imagining that she'd then exploit her serious illness and co-opt the ideas of another person to gain more attention with a book and book tour.

Will we ever know the truth? Likely not, as ABC has deep pockets and will crush/bury the author of the first book.

Posted at 1:31PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by QED

44. the "isles" of the supermarket. does this disease or lack of nutrition cause one to be illiterate--since when are there "isles" or islands of a supermarket. i don't get the reference. i coouldn't buy the book, or care less about someone that doesn't know what the hell they're talking about.

Posted at 2:16PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by capt ham

45. I love reading all the liberal nutjobs on here bitching about "an original thought." Yeah, "hope and change" was pretty damn original. Especially when he can't even begin to tell you what exactly the "hope," nor the "change" is.

Now hurry back to your "blame Bush for your miserable existence" lives!!!

Posted at 2:23PM on Jun 23rd 2009 by HOPE AND CHANGE!!!

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