Joy Behar seemed ready to risk it all on “The View” on Monday after co-host Meghan McCain threw a snide remark her way during a “hot topics” debate that nearly flew off the rails. Thankfully, veteran co-host Whoopi Goldberg was there to steer the conversation back on track — and keep Joy from reaching across the table.
The ladies, including co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Abby Huntsman, were discussing the recent exit of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen when tensions started to rise. The co-hosts began talking about the border security issue, President Donald Trump‘s immigration policies, and Kevin McAleenan, who’s expected to take over as acting DHS secretary.
Behar and McCain bumped heads, however, when they were debating what plan of action McAleenan should take to address the so-called “crisis” at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I’m from a border state, and immigration is always ground zero for where these conversations are happening,” said McCain, an Arizonan. “[For] many friends of mine, this is the number one and only issue. If we sit here and act like there is not a crisis, that it’s just crazy people living in border states that think that there’s a crisis, that is a winning ticket for Trump going forward.”
Chiming in, Behar suggested providing more aid to nations in Central America to help alleviate the influx of migrants at the border.
“This guy coming in [McAleenan] wants to help those countries,” she began. “That’s the way to solve the problem. Keep them happy, give them a house, give them food. Help them, help their children.”
“Give a Nicaraguan a house?” McCain cut in, talking over her co-host. “Well we’ve had a bunch of liberal guests who don’t want to send aid at all.”
“Hold on. I listened to you, just let me finish,” Behar replied.
With an audible scoff, McCain shot back: “Yeah, well it’s part your job to listen to me.”
Members of the audience gasped in disbelief, and before things escalated any further, Goldberg intervened.
“Here’s what’s not gonna happen today — we’re not gonna do this,” she said. “Everybody gets a conversation piece, everybody gets to say their piece, and we don’t need to comment if we don’t like what we’re hearing. Just let folks talk.”
Goldberg, 63, then handed the floor back to Behar to finish her point, but the visibly baffled co-host replied that she “forgot what it was now.”
Viewers were equally bothered by McCain’s nasty behavior and wasted no time sounding off on social media.
“[Meghan] McCain’s claim to fame is her father’s legacy – not anything she does/did,” CNN political analyst Symone Sanders said in a tweet. “Honestly, it’s so unsettling she gets the PRIVILEGE to sit at the table day in & day out pontificating about things she has heard or the work other ppl have done especially in politics. Joy is a saint btw.”
Sanders went on chide the Fox News alum for her “childish” behavior, writing: “If I pouted on every panel the way she does every damn show I wouldn’t have a job.”
“The hissy fit at the 5:09 mark is a disgrace,” a fellow user chimed in. “Meghan McCain doesn’t bring excitement. She’s unprofessional, with poor manners and little grasp on any subject not written out in advance on her blue cards. I can’t believe a show under the @ABC News division tolerates this … “
Others were more impressed with Behar’s restraint through the heated ordeal.
“You can see the exact moment Joy Behar considered throwing hands on live TV,” wrote one user. “Whew….CHILE! Meghan McCain is lucky Whoopi stepped in.”
“Obviously Joy Behar isn’t black, but in this moment, it feels like she had what (comedienne) @amandaseales calls, the ‘how black am I going to have be today?’ moment.,” journalist Jemele Hill joked.
Goldberg was also to be commended because, as one user put it, “she recognized the face Joy Behar made after she was interrupted And that was the face of somebody ready to… in the immortal words of #Lil Boosie… set it off in this m.f.”
Monday wasn’t the first, nor will it be the last, time Behar and McCain have engaged in an intense on-air spat. In December, the two locked horns in an all-out shouting match that ended with Behar tearing up her cue cards and storming off stage.
“‘If this s–t doesn’t stop I’m quitting this damn show … I can’t take this much more,” Behar, who’s been on “The View” for more than 10 seasons, allegedly said backstage. “I have tolerated a lot of s–t on this show but I’m at my wits’ end with this entitled b—h.”
Despite their on-air clashes, McCain insists she and Behar get along just fine when the cameras aren’t rolling.
” I will say first and foremost, when we are not talking about politics we have a lot in common,” she told CNN’s Van Jones. “But we are both true believers and she’s a great sparring partner on air for that reason because she truly believes in her liberal principles.”
Watch more in the video below.
