Abby Huntsman, the former Fox News personality who co-hosted ABC's daytime talk show The View from 2018 to 2020, is making a surprising return to the programme as a guest host. Her comeback comes years after she sharply criticised the show's workplace, labelling it a "toxic environment" that rewarded bad behaviour.
A Controversial Comeback
From March 23 until March 27, the 39-year-old journalist will step back onto the iconic panel, serving as the conservative voice while regular co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin remains on maternity leave. Huntsman joins a roster of conservative commentators who have filled in recently, including Savannah Chrisley, Sara Eisen, and Elisabeth Hasselback.
Past Accusations Resurface
When Huntsman left The View in January 2020, she initially cited her role as a senior adviser for her father's gubernatorial campaign. However, she later revealed the true reason for her departure, claiming the show fostered a harmful atmosphere. In a 2021 episode of her podcast, I Wish Somebody Told Me, she asserted that executives created an environment "all about money and the tabloids."
"You would see people act in ways that were not okay, that was very much part of the toxic environment of The View, and here we were going on the air criticising others for toxic culture," Huntsman said, highlighting the hypocrisy she perceived.
No Regrets Over Departure
Her exit was also marked by a highly publicised feud with former co-star and friend Meghan McCain. Reflecting on her decision in 2021, Huntsman told People magazine she had no regrets, stating, "I don't talk much about that time, and I won't, but the decision that I made was probably the best decision I could have made for my life, for my mental health, for my happiness, for my family."
Guest Line-Up and Career Background
During her week as guest host, Huntsman will welcome notable figures including Senator Cory Booker, American Idol judges, comedian Chelsea Handler, Paradise stars Thomas Doherty and Julianne Nicholson, and actor Amanda Peet.
The daughter of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., Abby began her television career on networks like MSNBC and NBC News before joining Fox News Channel as a reporter from 2015 to 2018. She joined The View in September 2018, appearing alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Meghan McCain, with the panel earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting in 2019.
Since leaving the show, Huntsman has focused on her podcast and family life, raising three children with her husband, Jeffrey Livingston. Her return to The View, despite past criticisms, marks a significant moment in daytime television, blending personal history with professional reconciliation.
