The View panel saw a significant change in its usual routine as co-host Joy Behar returned from an unexpected absence, revealing she'd suffered a painful injury that altered the show's traditional opening.
Painful Revelation on Air
Joy Behar explained to viewers that she had been missing from the ABC panel show for four days last week after sustaining what she described as a 'very, very, very painful' broken toe. The 83-year-old presenter made the revelation at the top of Monday's episode, noting that the typical walk-out onto set had been abandoned in sympathy with her injury.
'We didn't walk out today in sympathy of my foot,' Behar told the audience. 'I broke my toe last week, last Monday.' When co-host Sunny Hostin asked for details about how the accident occurred, Behar shared the unexpected cause: 'I dropped my iPad on my foot. That thing is heavy!'
Studio and Social Media Reaction
The live studio audience responded with a collective gasp upon hearing how Behar had broken her toe, while viewers at home took to social media to express their sympathy. One user on X, formerly Twitter, simply wrote 'Ouch, Joy!' while another commented 'So that's why they didn't walk out again!' acknowledging the change from the programme's usual format.
Behar was quick to reassure everyone that her injury is improving, stating 'It's getting better' during the broadcast. Her return to the show saw her joined by fellow panellists Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farrah Griffin, though the panel remained incomplete for another reason.
Whoopi Goldberg's Italian Absence
Behar also addressed the absence of regular host Whoopi Goldberg, explaining that the 70-year-old is currently in Naples, Italy where she's filming a cameo appearance for Un Posto Al Sole, the country's longest-running soap opera. Goldberg will be absent from The View for the next five days due to these work commitments.
The show played a video message from Goldberg in which she admitted to feeling nervous about her acting role. 'I met the two directors, met everybody, and it's still very nerve-wracking,' she said in the brief clip. Hostin elaborated that Goldberg will portray an American translator who moves into an apartment complex within the soap opera's storyline.
Prior to her departure for Italy, Goldberg had discussed the acting opportunity with The View's executive producer Brian Teta on The View: Behind the Table podcast, noting that 'It's time for me to do some things in addition to this [The View].'
