Joy Behar, the long-standing co-host of the popular daytime talk show "The View," was absent from Thursday's broadcast after suffering a dislocated shoulder in an accident backstage. The 83-year-old comedian reportedly caught her heel, leading to the injury and her subsequent inability to appear on the live program. The news was shared with viewers by co-host Sunny Hostin at the top of the show, drawing audible gasps from the studio audience.
"Joy caught a heel backstage but is on the mend and should be back on the show mid next week." Behar's Representative
Hostin, who was filling in as moderator in the absence of Whoopi Goldberg (who is away filming a movie), quickly moved to reassure viewers about Behar's condition. "So, Whoopi is still out filming a movie," Hostin began, before adding, "And, unfortunately, our dear friend Joy dislocated her shoulder." She continued, "Yeah, so she’s recovering and will be back soon."
A representative for Behar provided further details, confirming the nature of the injury and her expected return. "Joy caught a heel backstage but is on the mend and should be back on the show mid next week," the representative stated. The spokesperson also clarified that the injury was not as severe as a fracture, adding, "Her shoulder wasn’t broken and is back in place and she is excited to be back at the table as quickly as possible."
The unplanned absence marked a notable moment for "The View," which saw a modified panel for the Thursday episode. With both Goldberg and Behar unavailable, Hostin assumed the central moderating role, humorously noting that she had been selected for being "the next oldest" before correcting herself to "seasoned." Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Alyssa Farah Griffin were also present at the table, joined by guest host Sherri Shepherd. Alyssa Farah Griffin remarked on the assembled group, stating, "This is a squad right here," and adding, "I like this."
Behar has been an integral part of "The View" since its inception in 1997, maintaining a consistent presence on the show with only a two-season hiatus. Her latest injury-related absence comes just months after she spent approximately two weeks away from the program in June. That earlier absence was a planned engagement, related to her work in London on the play "My First Ex-Husband." The comedy, which focuses on themes of marriage and divorce, originally debuted off-Broadway in February 2025.
Upon her return from London, Behar had joked about the international reception of her play, reportedly telling Trending Politics, "Turns out women all over the world hate their husbands." She described the overall experience positively, noting, "Everybody loved it," and calling it "a great experience." Prior to that trip, Behar had also addressed media reports, clarifying that her time away was not a hiatus but a work commitment. "There’s been a lot of media attention on me lately because I’m taking off the next two weeks," she had informed viewers at the time. "They’re calling it a hiatus. It’s not a hiatus," she explained, detailing plans to write in Parisian cafes and visit exhibits before heading to London for the production.
In contrast to her planned theatrical engagement, this week's absence was entirely unexpected. The backstage accident resulted in a dislocated shoulder significant enough to prevent her participation in the broadcast. According to her representative, the shoulder has been successfully reset and was not broken. Behar is now focused on her recovery and is anticipated to rejoin her co-hosts at "The View" table as early as the middle of next week, resuming her role on the long-running program.
