Longtime TV show The View has declared COVID-19 is back.
During its 27th opening season, The View co-host Joy Behar opened up the show by saying “As you can see, Whoopi is not here. She has COVID. It’s back, it’s back.”
Behar continued “She’s on the mend, she’s on the tail end and will probably be back this week. But sorry she’s not here, for those of you who were looking forward to seeing her.”
Here’s the moment she said it:
Joy Behar: “Whoopi is not here — she has COVID”
The View Audience: “Woooahhhhhh”
Joy Behar: “It’s back — IT’S BACK!”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 5, 2023
Listen to the audience’s reaction:
Listen to the reaction by the audience of ‘The View’ when they get the news that Whoopi has COVID and Joy Behar exclaims “IT’S BACK!”
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) September 5, 2023
Here’s what People reported:
The View kicked off its 27th season on Tuesday, but Whoopi Goldberg’s seat at the table was empty.
The show’s longtime co-host, 67, was forced to miss the show’s premiere after testing positive for COVID-19.
“As you can see, Whoopi is not here. She has COVID. It’s back, it’s back!” co-host Joy Behar told the audience, referring to a growing uptick in COVID cases across the U.S.
Behar, 80, was quick to assure viewers that Goldberg is doing well and will be back in action soon. “She’s on the mend, she’s on the tail end and will probably be back this week. But sorry she’s not here, for those of you who were looking forward to seeing her,” she said.
Goldberg’s latest illness marks at least her third bout of COVID. In November 2022, the Ghost star began feeling sick prior to The View’s Nov. 14 episode and tests later confirmed she had contracted the virus. Co-host Sara Haines stepped in as moderator of the show in her place.
"It's back!": Why does it sound like @TheView is excited to announce Whoopi has COVID? pic.twitter.com/V1APvPb6ih
— Caleb Parke (@calebparke) September 5, 2023
Here’s what The Hill shared:
Whoopi Goldberg is missing the 27th season premiere of “The View,” after testing positive once again for COVID-19.
“As you can see, Whoopi is not here,” Joy Behar, one of the daytime talk show’s co-hosts, told the audience Tuesday.
“She has COVID,” Behar said. “It’s back!”
“But she’s on the mend,” Behar said of the Academy Award winner. “She’s on the tail-end and she’ll probably be back this week, but sorry she’s not here for those of you who were looking forward to seeing her.”
It’s not the first time that Goldberg has missed the return of “The View” after a hiatus due to the coronavirus.
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