Joy Behar under fire for revealing co-host’s past ‘lesbian relationship’
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
Sometimes, even a seasoned host like Joy Behar can stir the pot a bit too vigorously.
On the Wednesday, October 30 episode of The View, the 82-year-old comedian let slip a bit of personal history about co-host Sara Haines that even Haines’ parents, seated in the audience, weren’t ready to hear.
As Whoopi Goldberg introduced Sara’s parents, special guests Sandy and Dick Haines, in the studio, Behar didn’t miss a beat. “Are you going to bring up that lesbian relationship you said you had or not?” she blurted out, adding, “Back at Smith [College]!” The camera quickly cut to the 47-year-old journalist’s parents, capturing their less-than-amused expressions.
Caught in a mix of laughter and embarrassment, Sara — who graduated from Smith in 2002 — responded with a quick, “Dad, earmuffs! Earmuffs!” The rest of the co-hosts, including Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin, appeared equally surprised. Griffin, 35, noted, “That was off-air she told us that,” to which Hostin, 56, pointed out, “Now, it’s on-air.”
Sara then quipped, “It’s a good thing my dad doesn’t always watch,” to which Whoopi, 68, responded, “Now he will.”
Shortly after the on-air segment, it didn’t take long for fans to chime in with their two cents.
“Hey, Joy… There are good people out here who do not talk about people’s sex lives for sport and personal aggrandizement. You are trash. Full on trash,” one person posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“you’re shameless @joybehar for your remarks in front of @sarahaines ‘ parents. she has 3 kids too. i used think you were funny. no more,” another user remarked.
A third person referred to the star as “two-faced.”
Sara tied the knot with lawyer Max Shifrin in 2014 and have since welcomed three children: Alec, 8, Sandra, 6, and Caleb, 5.