In June 2021, American comedian and talk show host Joy Behar expressed her concerns about Whoopi Goldberg, one of her co-hosts on ABC’s “The View,” after Goldberg was unavailable to appear on the show and perform her moderator duties for several episodes. For three episodes, the 78-year-old Behar, who temporarily took over the position of moderator, started each episode by explaining that she was moderating for the 65-year-old Goldberg. She also explained that Ana Navarro, who normally only appears on the show on the days that Goldberg has scheduled days off, would co-host in Goldberg’s place. On June 24, 2021, Behar decided to give fans and viewers additional details about the reason for Goldberg’s continued absence, including an update about Goldberg’s health and a chronic medical problem that had previously forced Goldberg to take days off from the show in 2015.
Goldberg had been suffering from complications related to sciatica, which is a condition that involves excruciating pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve from the back into the hip and down the leg and ankle into the foot. Goldberg has a pinched nerve caused by a bulging disc. The nerve becomes inflamed and then causes shooting and burning pain in her body down her leg. At the time, a lot of Goldberg’s fans, critics, and others incorrectly believed that Goldberg was dealing with the aftermath of a COVID-19 infection and possibly “long-COVID” symptoms as part of a post-viral syndrome. Behar told fans “We’re so worried about her at this point,” but then downplayed the extent of Goldberg’s illness by saying that she believed Goldberg had the pain under control. This wasn’t the first time Goldberg’s absence from the show caused concern and fear among her co-hosts and fans. In 2019, she suffered a severe case of pneumonia in both lungs with sepsis and nearly died as a result of the infection.
When Goldberg returned to “The View” on June 29, she needed to use a walker. She explained that she had been hospitalized after a bulging disc in her back had caused so much sciatic nerve inflammation and pain that it was impossible for her to move her leg. She compared the pain to a bad ex-boyfriend who had come back to mess with her. Although Goldberg stated that her sudden need for a walker “freaks” her out, the walker soon became her “new best friend” since it made it possible for her to walk again safely. People who use walkers don’t always need them, but the walker provides a sense of security for those who are fearful that they might fall down without one. Behar interrupted Goldberg’s story to express her own views about sciatica, which she explained she had in her youth. She praised Goldberg for looking so well-rested but emphasized that her co-host needed to do whatever she could to protect her health and well-being. Goldberg joked that she probably looked rested because she was in a hospital room the entire time unable to do anything. Behar has also taken time off from the show for medical reasons. She was absent for several episodes in 2020 because she was concerned about the risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection seriously harming her given her age. Since then, Behar has mentioned the possibility of her retiring from the show sometime near the end of summer 2022.
