Barbara Corcoran was fired from Shark Tank — her bold response secured a place in TV history
The timing made the rejection even more painful as the celebrity was preparing to move to Hollywood and had fully committed to the opportunity.
For viewers, Barbara Corcoran has long been a familiar presence on Shark Tank, known for speaking confidently at the table and backing her instincts. However, what many people did not know until recently is that her path to the show almost ended before it ever began. During an interview on The Tamron Hall Show, Corcoran explained that she was fired from Shark Tank before the show even began filming, despite already signing her contract and preparing to leave for Hollywood. The snippet of the interview was shared on Tamron Hall Show's Instagram (@tamronhallshow), where it has garnered 220k views so far.
When Tamron Hall asked whether Corcoran had been fired early on, she corrected her. "I was fired before it started, after I was hired," Corcoran said. According to her, producers called after she had already signed the contract to say another woman had been chosen instead. "I’m sorry. I know you signed the contract already, and I know you thought you were coming out next week, but we hired another woman to take your place," she recalled being told.
The timing made the rejection even more painful as Corcoran had already told friends she was heading to Hollywood and had fully committed to the opportunity. "I bought new luggage. I got really fancy really fast," she said. When the call came, the disappointment hit hard. "I was so upset and felt sorry for myself," she admitted. Still, Corcoran said she eventually fell back on the one thing she had learned to do throughout her life. "Time to stand back up for myself," she told herself. She wrote an email to the producer explaining how she viewed rejection, framing it as something that had consistently led to better outcomes.
"I told him that I considered his rejection a lucky charm," she said, adding that everything good in her life had followed rejection. In the message, she listed seven or eight past setbacks she had turned around and ended by asking for the chance to compete for the seat. To her surprise, producers invited both women to come out and compete for the role on Shark Tank, and Corcoran ultimately secured the spot.
Corcoran also described how intimidating the early days of Shark Tank felt, particularly as the only woman sitting at the table. "The first couple of years, I was afraid all the time," she said, explaining that she worried her voice was too small and that she could not be heard. "They’d run right over me," she added. Over time, she learned how to push through that fear by recognizing it in the moment. Instead of retreating, she now forces herself to speak up. "Right away, I’m going to stand up and be heard, and I force myself."
Research has shown that experiences like Corcoran’s are not uncommon, particularly for women in high-visibility, male-dominated environments. A 2024 study by Oscar Isak and Anna Krzysztof looks at how men and women tend to lead differently. One of the most important findings is that women leaders often face a double standard. When they are assertive, they may be judged negatively for violating gender expectations. When they are collaborative or empathetic, they may be seen as insufficiently authoritative. This forces many women to actively push themselves to speak up or assert authority in ways men are less often required to do.
The clip resonated with tons of viewers, who praised her for fighting for what she deserved. @beloveddillard said, "Now this is what faith work and wisdom looks like!!!" @shesalllthatt wrote, "Idk why, but this made me emotional. It's always us women having to fight tooth and nail for a seat at the table!"
You can follow The Tamron Hall Show (@tamronhallshow) on Instagram for more such conversations.
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