“The View” has recently become a hub for on-air legal disclaimers, much to the chagrin of its co-hosts. Sunny Hostin, a former federal prosecutor, has frequently been tasked with reading legal notes to clarify statements made during discussions. This trend has not gone unnoticed by her colleague, Joy Behar, who quipped, “Just call the show ‘Legal Note’ from now on.”
The necessity for these legal clarifications stems from the show’s candid conversations about public figures facing allegations. For instance, during a segment on Matt Gaetz, Hostin stated, “Within the Department of Justice, you have the sex crimes unit, which is what I was a part of. Child sex crimes and child trafficking.”
How could you nominate someone with allegations of child trafficking or trafficking across state lines and having sex with a 17-year-old?” Following this, she read a legal note emphasizing that Gaetz has long denied all allegations, and the DOJ investigation concluded without charges.
JUST IN: The View's Sunny Hostin had to read another legal note that Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth have not been charged with any crimes.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 21, 2024
Joy Behar is getting TIRED of it.
"Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crime."
"Pete Hegseth [has]… pic.twitter.com/o36lylsRPB
Similarly, discussions about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, have required legal notes. Hegseth has faced scrutiny over past allegations, leading Hostin to clarify on-air that he denies any wrongdoing.
Adding to the show’s recent controversies, co-host Whoopi Goldberg found herself in hot water over comments about Holtermann’s Bakery, a family-owned establishment in Staten Island. Goldberg claimed that the bakery refused to make her birthday dessert due to her political views. The bakery’s owner, Jill Holtermann, refuted this, explaining that the refusal was due to equipment issues, specifically a malfunctioning boiler.
Despite calls from local politicians and the public for an apology, Goldberg has yet to issue one.
Critics are calling for the show to be canceled. The network says it is looking for a conservative-leaning host to join the cast as a last-ditch effort to win back ratings, lost as the show has become a far-left soapbox in recent years.