Rosie O’Donnell finally discussed her cancelled cruise visit to Bermuda yesterday — in front of millions of television viewers.

The lesbian US TV presenter raised the subject more than a week after her company, R Family Vacations, called off the gay family cruise out of fears it would provoke religious protests by churches on the Island.

Yesterday’s screening of The View on ABC featured O’Donnell discussing the controversy with fellow presenters Elisabeth Hasselbeck (‘Survivor: The Australian Outback’), comedian Joy Behar and guest host Regina King (‘The Year of the Dog’). Actress and UNICEF ambassador Vanessa Redgrave was their guest.

The Emmy Award-winning talk show is known for its lively debate, and O’Donnell raised the subject among banter on US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and rap music lyrics.

Perhaps unaware Premier Dr. Ewart Brown is Minister for Tourism and Transport, one presenter criticised the Department of Tourism for not doing enough while O’Donnell praised Dr. Brown for his support.

Churches on the Island also came under fire.

One 30-year-old viewer, who did not wish to be named, said: “I felt ashamed that they were talking about Bermuda like this. I don’t think anything positive was said.

“I have no problem with the cruise coming here so it made me feel disappointed that the Island was shown as a dangerous place to come, based on people’s sexual orientation. It was alarming.”

Winnie McCarthy, an attorney in Chicago who writes daily reports on the show on watchingtheview.com, told The Royal Gazette: “Rosie said that although the Premier of Bermuda had been very welcoming and encouraging of the R Family Vacations cruise ship docking in Bermuda, the overriding concerns of security and the effect that expected protesters would have on the children caused the cancellation of Bermuda as a port of call.

“She said that they had received word that 80 churches would be protesting their arrival. When they were in the Bahamas in 2004, there were only four church groups protesting them, but that was enough to cause many of the children (and the adults) to become very upset, and it was very horrifying.

“Rosie said that the idea of the cruise is for families not normally welcome in places because of their homosexuality to find a place were they can feel safe, secure and welcome. To then take them to an environment where people are yelling at them and saying hateful things defeats the purpose of the cruise.

“She also questioned whether they wanted to take their tourism to a place where so many people would be protesting them. She said that it wasn’t the whole country of Bermuda that was against them, evidenced by the Premier calling them on the phone to show his support, but that 80 churches is a lot of people.”

The 80 churches O’Donnell was referring to were interfaith group United By Faith. They provoked fears last month when chairman Andre Curtis said they might bus the cruise passengers to churches to “have the pastors pray for them”.

Mr Curtis is chairman of the Government’s Faith Based Tourism initiative and also runs the Premier’s constituency committee in Warwick South Central.

After the Island was dropped from the cruise itinerary last Monday, the group then claimed it was “a victory for God”.

The Norwegian Cruise Line visit had been scheduled for July 12. But Gregg Kaminsky, chief executive of R Family Vacations, said the company feared a repeat of the incident in Nassau in 2004 when children were upset at anti-gay chants by religious groups.

Last month Mr. Kaminsky told The Royal Gazette that just “one incident” would cause the company to call off the cruise. Perhaps referring to O’Donnell’s popularity among millions of viewers, he warned: “If we don’t come to Bermuda I will tell you that everyone in America will know why.”

Yesterday, North America’s daytime television viewers were told why, but Bermuda’s image as a welcoming tourist destination has also come under the global media spotlight. The controversy has been reported as far afield as Russia and Australia, while debate still rages on gay websites around the world. Commenting on The View, human rights campaigner and PLP MP Renée Webb said: “I think the fact that it was put on mainstream television, that it has to go that way, is unfortunate. But it brings to the attention of the Bermuda populace that discrimination is taking place here.

“The cruise did the right thing, but I think it’s a tragedy for Bermuda in 2007, with an economy based on tourism, to be dictated to by a minority of churches. And they’re not acting very Christian in their attitude.”

She added: “Homophobia is alive and well here and it must be stamped out.”