In a recent episode of The View on ABC, Joy Behar, one of the show’s long-time hosts, dropped a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the studio. At the ripe age of 80, Behar openly declared that she was “happy” when she was dismissed from the show back in 2013. Behar, an original host of The View since its inception in 1997, was unceremoniously shown the door in 2013, with the network keeping the reasons under wraps. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, she returned to the program just two years later.
The topic of Behar’s firing resurfaced due to an interview she granted to Time Magazine last year, where she explained her feelings about leaving The View. Behar’s statement turned heads as she admitted, “I was glad to be fired (from The View). I was basically sick of the show at that point for some reason. I don’t even remember why.”
Behar’s nonchalant attitude toward her firing speaks volumes about her resilience in the cutthroat world of television and Hollywood. Throughout her illustrious career, she’s faced her fair share of setbacks but has consistently bounced back stronger than ever.
In her Time Magazine interview, Behar elaborated on her decision, saying, “I always have friends where I work, and if I don’t have friends at the job, I will not keep the job. So, when I was fired last time from this show, people said to me, ‘Were you okay with that?’ and my answer is, I was happy because all my friends had left already. So, there was no reason to stay anymore. I mean it.”
Whoopi Goldberg, who was co-hosting The View at the time of Behar’s exit, couldn’t help but chime in. She jokingly responded, “Really? All your friends left?” Goldberg playfully pretended to shed a tear before adding, “It’s okay. I’m cool.”
Behar quickly clarified her comment, stating, “You had just come on, and my backstage friends had left. And I don’t like to work when I don’t have friends.”
Goldberg, though momentarily taken aback, assured Behar that they had been friends for a long time even before becoming co-hosts in 2013. She explained that she was merely teasing Behar about her words, diffusing any tension.
Behar has maintained that her departure from The View in 2013 was not her choice. In an interview with People Magazine in 2017, she asserted, “Somebody wanted me gone. It was not 100 percent my choice. When they told me they weren’t renewing, I said, ‘Good, I’m out of here.’ I didn’t like the way the show was going at that time.”
Behar’s ability to brush off insults and criticism seems to be one of her defining characteristics. Sunny Hosting, another co-host of The View, commented, “She doesn’t hold a grudge. I think because she doesn’t remember what happened the day before.” Hosting added that Behar may be reminded of past insults from time to time, but she remains unfazed, choosing to let things go and focus on the next day’s challenges.
In a world where television personalities often succumb to grudges and rivalries, Joy Behar’s ability to rise above the noise is truly remarkable. Her candid admission about her feelings toward her past on The View serves as a testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to her craft.
As the controversy continues to swirl, one thing is clear: Joy Behar is a force to be reckoned with, and her enduring presence on The View is a testament to her enduring appeal in the world of daytime talk shows.
