The hosts of ‘The View,’ Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, and Alyssa Farah Griffin opted not to address ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! following Kimmel’s controversial comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Instead, they shifted their focus to the ongoing investigation into the Epstein files and former CDC Director Susan Monarez’s testimony regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This left some viewers frustrated, with many speculating that the hosts had been instructed to avoid the topic.
A source told DailyMail, “The View is not going to discuss Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension because they’re on the same network. They won’t criticise their own. It’s a general rule at ABC not to trash other shows.”
Why was Jimmy Kimmel suspended?
Jimmy Kimmel Live! was indefinitely suspended by ABC after Kimmel made remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk that sparked controversy.
On his show, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA crowd desperately trying to paint this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points. On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half-staff, which stirred some criticism. But on a human level, you can understand how hard the president is taking this. Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction. This isn’t how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
In response to the backlash, ABC, owned by Disney, issued a brief statement announcing Kimmel’s suspension. Additionally, two major station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their ABC affiliates.
Why did ‘The View ‘chose to stay silent?
A source told DailyMail, “There’s panic across the board, but obviously with more politically based shows than the entertainment ones. Sinclair made it nearly impossible for Jimmy Kimmel to return because they’re asking for him to make donations, public apologies – all these things that they know he won’t do. They’re pushing him into a space where the show is over.”
“Behind the scenes, staff are scared for their jobs. It’s a scary time. They’re really concerned. People are holding their breath. Those who work in the media industry have been in fear for a while now, but last night’s news, you can say it has heightened their fear. Some shows used to be without censorship, but now after Kimmel’s suspension, they’re going to have to be extra careful about what they say on national TV,” added another source to DailyMail.
‘Cancel the view now’
Netizens slammed ‘The View’ hosts over their decision to not speak about Jimmy Kimmel live show’s suspension. A user on X noted, “If you ladies can’t stand up to ABC might as well cancel the view. ” Another claimed, “They’re a sitting duck and clearly their free speech is restricted.”
“I’ve watched @TheView since I was a kid w/ my Grandma (RIP) I’ve been in the live, audience, been a loyal fan, found comfort for years watching them express there unfiltered opinions, that ended yesterday. 2 iconic comics at that table and @ABCNetwork has clearly silenced them,” added a user.
“The ladies of The View should refuse to go back on the air until Jimmy Kimmel’s show is restored,” noted a netizen.
“Because ABC told them to STFU about it,” added another.