Let's be real: The View isn't just a talk show. It’s a gladiatorial arena where the weapons are Sharpies and cue cards. Since Barbara Walters launched the show in 1997, the "Hot Topics" table has seen more turnover than a fast-food joint during a holiday rush. If you're looking into who was fired on The View, you’re going to find a trail of nondisclosure agreements, awkward "mutual departures," and some very public blindsidings.
It’s never just about "creative differences." Usually, it’s about chemistry. Or, more accurately, the lack of it.
The show thrives on conflict, sure. But when that conflict spills over from the cameras into the makeup trailers, ABC executives start sharpening the axe. We’ve seen legends get the boot and newcomers disappear before their dressing room nameplates are even screwed on. It’s brutal. It’s unpredictable. And honestly, it’s why we keep watching.
The Star Jones Shockwave
If you want to talk about the blueprint for a messy TV exit, you have to start with Star Jones. This wasn't just a firing; it was a coup. Back in 2006, the show was at a crossroads. Star had lost a significant amount of weight, gotten married in a highly publicized (and some say overly commercialized) wedding, and the audience's connection with her was fraying.
The producers decided not to renew her contract. Simple, right? They told her she could stay until the end of the season and leave with her dignity intact.
She had other plans.
On June 27, 2006, Star went rogue. Without warning her co-hosts or the producers, she announced live on air that she was leaving the show. The look on Barbara Walters' face? Pure ice. Barbara later told ABC News that she felt "betrayed" because they had given Star a chance to make a graceful exit. Instead, Star forced their hand. She was gone the next day. No goodbye special. No flowers. Just an empty chair and a lot of tension. This set the tone for every "firing" that followed. It proved that on this show, nobody is untouchable, not even the original cast members.
The Ann Curry Treatment? The Ann Curry Treatment? No, The Sherri and Jenny Era
Fast forward to 2014. This was arguably the biggest bloodbath in the show’s history. In a single sweep, Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy were out.
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Sherri had been there for seven years. She was a staple. But the ratings were dipping, and the network wanted a "fresh start." While Sherri's departure was framed as a contract negotiation breakdown, the industry consensus was that the show was looking to pivot.
Then there was Jenny McCarthy. She was only there for one season. Honestly, it was a bad fit from day one. She’s funny and high-energy, but The View requires a specific kind of political and social gravitas that didn't mesh with her "gross-out" comedy brand. She later told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that the environment was "misery" and that the show was constantly changing its mind about what it wanted her to be.
When you look at who was fired on The View during this period, it’s clear the show was panicking. They were trying to chase a younger demographic while keeping the old guard happy. It didn't work.
The Debbie Matenopoulos Lesson
We can’t forget the original "firing." Debbie Matenopoulos was only 22 when she was hired. She was supposed to be the "young voice" at the table. Instead, she became a punchline on Saturday Night Live.
She was young. Maybe too young.
The audience didn't trust her take on serious political issues, and the chemistry with the older women felt forced. Barbara Walters eventually had to make the call. It was the first time the show realized that the "generational" gimmick only works if the young person can hold their own against a powerhouse like Meredith Vieira or Joy Behar.
Why the "Fired" Label is Tricky
Technically, a lot of these women weren't "fired" in the legal sense. Their contracts weren't renewed. In TV land, that’s a polite way of saying "get out."
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- Nicolle Wallace: A powerhouse political strategist who was told she wasn't "contentious" enough. She didn't want to fight, so she was gone after one season.
- Rosie Perez: She left to do a play on Broadway, but rumors swirled for months that the producers were unhappy with her performance during the Hot Topics segments.
- Michelle Collins: Another one-season casualty. She was hilarious but perhaps leaned too hard into the pop culture snark for a show that wanted to stay relevant in an election year.
The Rosie O’Donnell Factor
You can't talk about The View without Rosie. She didn't just join the show; she colonized it. Twice. Her first stint in 2006-2007 ended after the infamous "split-screen" fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. While Rosie technically asked to be released from her contract early, the bridge wasn't just burned—it was nuked.
The producers knew they couldn't control her. And on a live show, that’s a liability.
When she came back in 2014, everyone thought it would be a glorious homecoming. It lasted five months. Rosie cited stress and health concerns (she had recently suffered a heart attack), but the behind-the-scenes reports painted a picture of a power struggle with Whoopi Goldberg. When the show is too small for two "alphas," one of them has to go. Usually, it's the one who isn't moderating.
Misconceptions About Whoopi and Joy
There’s a persistent rumor that Joy Behar was fired in 2013. That’s not quite right. She chose to leave because, in her own words, she was "tired of it." But the show felt her absence so deeply that they practically begged her to come back two years later.
As for Whoopi Goldberg? People call for her firing every other week on social media. Whether it’s her comments on the Holocaust (which led to a suspension) or her general "done with this" attitude on some days, she remains. Why? Because she’s the anchor. She’s the only one who can keep the train on the tracks when things get wild.
The Politics of the Empty Chair
Lately, the firing cycle has slowed down, but the stakes are higher. The addition of Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro was a calculated move to stabilize the "conservative" seat that had been a revolving door since Meghan McCain left.
Meghan McCain wasn't fired, by the way. She walked away. But the environment that led to her leaving—the leaked stories, the on-air eye-rolling, the total breakdown of civility—was exactly the same environment that usually gets people canned.
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What Really Happens Behind the Scenes
When someone is about to be fired from The View, it usually follows a pattern:
- The "Lack of Chemistry" Leak: Anonymous sources start telling Page Six or Variety that the co-host isn't "testing well" with focus groups.
- The Diminished Role: The co-host starts getting fewer lead-ins to segments.
- The Sudden Absence: They take a few "personal days" that turn into a week.
- The Friday Afternoon Press Release: The network releases a statement thanking them for their "valuable contributions" while announcing a "new direction."
It’s a corporate dance.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Critics
If you're following the casting drama, keep these things in mind. They help make sense of the chaos.
Watch the "Moderator"
If Whoopi Goldberg is nodding along, the person is safe. If Whoopi is looking at the ceiling or cutting them off, the "chemistry" is failing. The moderator has more power than the producers when it comes to who stays.
Follow the Ratings, Not the Twitter Outrage
People love to scream for co-hosts to be fired on Twitter. ABC doesn't care. They care about the 25-54 demographic. If a controversial host (like Meghan McCain or Rosie O'Donnell) is driving viewership numbers up, they will keep them regardless of the backlash.
The "Testing" Period
Pay attention to the guest hosts. When the show brings back a former host or tries out a new face multiple times in a month, someone’s seat is likely warm. This is the "soft launch" of a replacement.
The Contract Cycle
Most firings happen in June or July. This is when contracts are up for renewal before the new season starts in September. If a host is being "quiet" during the summer, they might be in the middle of a messy exit negotiation.
The history of who was fired on The View is a history of television power dynamics. It’s not just about who’s right or wrong on an issue. It’s about who can survive the pressure cooker of live daytime TV without losing their mind—or their audience.
To stay ahead of the next casting shake-up, monitor the trade publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline rather than just the show’s official social media. The real news always breaks there first, usually months before the "official" goodbye. Focus on the seating arrangements too; whoever is sat furthest from the moderator is usually the most vulnerable in the upcoming season.