Joy Behar is making it clear that viewers shouldn’t read too much into (or get their hopes up over…) her upcoming absence from The View.
During a recent appearance on the show’s Behind the Table podcast with executive producer Brian Teta, the longtime co-host went out of her way to ensure audiences understood that her upcoming departure from the daytime talk show had been planned well in advance and was tied to professional obligations overseas rather than any behind-the-scenes shakeup.
The clarification comes at an interesting moment for The View, which has found itself under increased scrutiny in recent months due to FCC inquiries and a string of controversial on-air moments involving several of its panelists, including Behar herself.
Joy Behar Explains Why She’ll Be Missing Upcoming Episodes
The topic came up when Teta informed listeners that Behar would be absent from the podcast and the television show for a short period.
“This is your last podcast for a little bit, because next week you’re not going to be here. Are we talking about this?” Teta asked.
Behar quickly jumped in to make sure viewers received an explanation.
“Well, they made me bank the weekend shows even though I’m not here,” she said.
You better tell people why I’m not [going to be on the show].”
According to Behar, her absence is connected to a theatrical production taking her overseas.
“I fly to Paris this week, and then I go take the tunnel to London after a week, and I’ll be in London a second week doing my play, My First Ex-Husband, at the Boulevard Theatre in the West End,” she explained.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joy Behar on The View – YouTube, The View
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She also promoted the production’s cast, adding, “We have Jackie Hoffman and I being the two American women talking, then we have two British actresses. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
Teta indicated that several guest hosts and fill-in personalities will appear during Behar’s absence.
Timing Raises Questions Amid Growing Scrutiny Of ‘The View’
While Behar’s trip appears to be entirely routine, the timing is notable.
The View has spent much of the year generating headlines for reasons that extend far beyond celebrity interviews and entertainment discussions. The show has become the subject of FCC scrutiny regarding whether certain daytime talk programs should continue receiving long-standing exemptions that allow them to discuss political candidates without triggering equal-time requirements.
Joy Behar on The View – YouTube, The View
ABC has publicly pushed back against those inquiries, arguing that the investigations represent an unprecedented challenge to free speech and established broadcasting practices.
At the same time, critics have continued to question whether The View functions as a news program, a political commentary show, or a hybrid of both.
That debate has only intensified following several recent on-air exchanges involving Behar.
Behar Recently Clashed With Co-Hosts Over TrumpRx
One of Behar’s most talked-about moments in recent weeks involved a heated discussion about TrumpRx, a prescription drug initiative associated with President Trump.
During the conversation, Behar urged viewers to be skeptical of the program because of its connection to Trump, drawing immediate pushback from some of her co-hosts.
ABC News co-host Joy Behar claims “we’re all going to die” because Trump wants to lower drug prices with TrumpRX. She even lashes out at Mark Cuban for getting involved.
She shouts at her co-hosts who support lowering drug costs. pic.twitter.com/Wi3SNqU41J— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) May 19, 2026
The segment became particularly contentious when Behar suggested Americans could be placing themselves at risk by trusting a healthcare initiative tied to the president. Critics argued that the discussion appeared more focused on political opposition than on whether the program could reduce prescription costs for consumers.
The exchange generated significant attention online and renewed criticism from viewers who believe the panel often allows political considerations to overshadow practical policy discussions.
Anthony Weiner Appearance Also Drew Criticism
Behar was also part of a widely discussed episode one year ago that featured disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner (who went to prison for sending inappropriate material to a minor) as he attempted to reintroduce himself to voters amid his political comeback effort.
Weiner’s appearance generated immediate backlash from critics who questioned why a national daytime television program would provide a platform to a politician whose career collapsed in public scandal.
Anthony Weiner on The View – YouTube, The View
While The View did not formally endorse Weiner’s campaign, detractors argued that simply providing him with a highly visible national platform served to help rehabilitate his public image.
The appearance quickly became another flashpoint in the ongoing debate surrounding the show’s editorial judgment and political coverage.
Behar Expected To Return After London Run
Despite the speculation that often accompanies the absence of a longtime television personality, nothing in Behar’s comments suggests her departure from The View is permanent.
Instead, the veteran co-host appears focused on her upcoming London production and wanted viewers to understand exactly why she would be away from the program.
Given her insistence that Teta explain her absence to audiences, Behar seemed determined to make sure no one confused a temporary overseas engagement with something more significant.
For now, The View will move forward with a rotating group of fill-in hosts while Behar takes her show across the Atlantic before eventually returning to the panel.
Do you want to see Joy Behar continue as part of The View? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
