A moment of unfiltered commentary during a live television broadcast has sparked controversy among the hosts of ABC's popular daytime talk show "The View."
According to Daily Mail, Joy Behar, 82, received a stern talking-to from show executives after revealing cohost Sara Haines' private college experience during Wednesday's broadcast while Haines' parents were in attendance.
The incident occurred when Behar interrupted Whoopi Goldberg's podcast promotion to inquire about Haines' past relationship from her college days.
The awkward moment unfolded when Behar asked Haines if she planned to discuss her previous same-sex relationship from her time at Smith College during an upcoming episode of the show's Behind the Table podcast. The revelation left Haines' conservative parents visibly stunned, with her father's jaw-dropping and her mother maintaining a forced a smile.
An insider revealed to Daily Mail about the incident's aftermath. According to their source:
Joy was blasted by her cohosts and higher-ups for her on air comment about Sara Haines' lesbian romance. She crossed the line in terms of relaying something that was told to her off-air.
The situation was particularly sensitive given Haines' upbringing in an extremely conservative household. The 47-year-old host, who attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, has since built a life with lawyer Max Shifrin, whom she married in 2014. Together they have three children: Alec, Sandra, and Caleb.
This isn't the first time Behar has made such comments about Haines' sexuality on air. In June, she referred to Haines as a "closet lipstick lesbian" after learning about her visit to Cubbyhole, a lesbian bar in Manhattan. Behar, who has been a fixture on the show since 1997, is known for her unfiltered commentary.
The veteran host's own candid nature has extended to discussing her personal views on same-sex relationships. During a previous episode, she openly shared her thoughts about potentially exploring such relationships in her later years, specifically mentioning her nineties as a possibility.
Show executives took immediate action following the incident. A source close to the production revealed that while Behar has apologized to Haines, management made it clear that such revelations of off-air conversations were inappropriate and unprofessional.
The incident has highlighted the delicate balance between entertainment and personal boundaries in daytime television.
The show continues to air weekdays on ABC at 11 am ET, maintaining its position as one of the network's flagship daytime programs. Despite this controversy, both Behar and Haines remain integral parts of the show's hosting panel.
The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in managing personal and professional boundaries on live television. While Behar's trademark candidness has been a defining characteristic of her two-decade tenure on "The View," this particular revelation crossed a line that prompted swift action from show management.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing authentic conversation with respect for personal privacy, especially in the context of live television where families and personal relationships can be unexpectedly affected by impromptu disclosures.
