Meghan McCain won’t satisfy her many critics that have previously called for her firing from the popular ABC talk show “The View” by getting canned, but she may grant their wish in a different way by leaving the show on her own accord by next season.
McCain, the show’s resident Republican co-host, is emotionally spent and has had enough of the constant drama and head-butting with her liberal-leaning fellow panelists, sources close to the 34-year-old told The Daily Beast.
Sources close to Meghan McCain, 34, say the Republican co-host is feeling “emotionally drained, angry and isolated” after two years of discontent on “The View.” (The View / video screenshot)
“It’s getting to the point where it’s not worth the emotional toll every week,” said one McCain pal, who asked not to be identified. “If she doesn’t stay at The View, she will find other work.”
The daughter of late Arizona Sen. John McCain has become the pundit fans love to hate and is perhaps best known for her on-air fits, tearful tantrums and explosive clashes with liberal co-hosts Joy Behar, 76, and Sunny Hostin. Reports of McCain’s alleged bratty, obnoxious behavior off screen have also been leaked by popular website The Daily Mail.
Last year, the conservative co-host and Behar got into a shouting match so intense that Behar, a 20-year veteran of “The View,” threatened to quit the show altogether, reportedly telling producers she was “at her wits end with this entitled b—h.”
Sources told The Daily Beast McCain is fed up with the drama and negative publicity, saying the constant turmoil has left her feeling “emotionally drained, angry and isolated” to the point where she’s seriously considering turning down ABC’s offer to return for “The View’s” 23rd season next fall.
“(She’s) feeling like a caged animal,” one McCain confidante told the outlet.
Another friend said the Fox News alum, who is said to earn nearly $1 million a year, just feels “so exhausted and defeated” after two years of discontent on the daytime talk show.
Hilary Estey McLoughlin, a senior executive producer on “The View,” described the sharp-tongued McCain as “passionate” and said the show would love to have her back for another season — despite opposition from critics.
“We don’t want people to attack Meghan. We’re happy to have Meghan there,” McLoughlin told The Daily Beast in an interview. “I think she wants to be on the show. She realizes it’s a very good platform for her and we love having her there.”
“What happens with Meghan is that because she’s so passionate about what she’s talking about, and she feels very strongly that she’s carrying this mantle for the conservative perspective,” McLaoughlin added. “I think that’s the part that’s the most draining for her.”
Critics have had more than enough of McCain’s antics, however, and rejoiced at news of her rumored exit.
“It’s wild that Meghan McCain is considering leaving The View, considering her job there really lets her play to her strengths: saying her dad’s name and being wrong all the time,” comedian Josh Gondelman joked on Twitter.
“Meghan McCain whining that being paid a fortune to say ‘I’m John McCain’s daughter!’ on TV makes her feel ‘caged’ – while her party has actual kids in cages as she says that – shows both a stupefying lack of self-awareness and a ripe Persecution Complex of Privilege,” another opined.
Meghan McCain : I’m leaving the view
— john (@iam_johnw) July 3, 2019
America : pic.twitter.com/PNI1k7v8Yk
“It would be great to see and hear a lot less of Meghan McCain,” another critic wrote. “[I] hope this goes through as promised.”
