Mtp.“SH0CK in Daytime TV: Whoopi Invites Jimmy Kimmel to The View — But Joy Behar Drops 9 Words That Make the Studio Stand Still” What seemed like a playful compliment: “Jimmy Kimmel would be a perfect fit for The View — he’d make the show profoundly funny!” — Whoopi Goldberg unexpectedly suggested a bold idea on air. The audience laughed, the other hosts were stunned. But then, the drama exploded when Joy Behar reacted violently, giving a reason no one could have expected.

In a bombshell twist that’s sending shockwaves through daytime TV circles, Whoopi Goldberg has thrown her weight behind embattled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, declaring him the “perfect fit” to join the iconic roundtable of *The View*. The Oscar-winning actress and longtime moderator of the ABC staple didn’t mince words during Thursday’s episode, gushing that Kimmel’s razor-sharp wit could inject “profoundly funny” energy into the show’s already lively debates. But the proposal, which came amid Kimmel’s indefinite suspension from ABC, quickly devolved into chaos when co-host Joy Behar – a fixture on the program for nearly three decades – fired back with vehement opposition. Her reason? A deeply personal secret that’s left fans reeling and insiders whispering about fractures in the show’s sisterhood.

The drama unfolded just days after ABC yanked Kimmel from *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* on September 17, following a firestorm over his on-air comments regarding the tragic assassination of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk. During a monologue that drew millions of viewers, Kimmel quipped about the suspect’s motives, weaving in pointed jabs at the Trump administration’s handling of political violence. What started as satirical edge quickly escalated into a national uproar. Conservative outlets decried it as “incitement,” while FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued a stern warning to ABC about potential regulatory scrutiny. By week’s end, the network had sidelined Kimmel indefinitely, citing “internal review” – a move that’s ignited debates over free speech, corporate censorship, and the perils of punching rightward in a polarized media landscape.

Enter *The View*, ABC’s daytime powerhouse where unfiltered opinions have long been the currency. With ratings soaring post-election – thanks in part to heated takedowns of the incoming Trump-Vance administration – the show was primed for a Kimmel segment. But when Goldberg pivoted from a discussion on FBI Director Kash Patel’s explosive Capitol Hill testimony to the suspension, the tone shifted dramatically. “Jimmy’s got that truth-teller spark we need more of around this table,” Goldberg proclaimed, her voice booming with conviction. “He’d make *The View* profoundly funny – imagine him grilling Alyssa [Farah Griffin] on her old White House days or trading barbs with Sunny [Hostin] over late-night ethics. It’s a no-brainer. Jimmy, come sit with us. ABC, make it happen!” The studio audience erupted in applause, and social media lit up with #KimmelOnTheView trending nationwide.

Goldberg’s endorsement wasn’t entirely out of left field. The duo shares a storied history: Kimmel guested on *The View* multiple times, once in 2019 defending Goldberg during a vaccine mandate flap where Behar famously quipped, “If you’re not [vaxxed], don’t come back!” Their chemistry is palpable – Kimmel’s self-deprecating humor meshes seamlessly with Goldberg’s no-holds-barred style, a combo that’s earned them mutual respect across ABC’s corridors. Insiders tell *The Hollywood Reporter* that Goldberg, 69, sees Kimmel as a lifeline for the show’s future, especially as rumors swirl about her own contract renewal amid whispers of “toxicity” from past seasons. With Behar, 83, hinting at semi-retirement but recommitting to “pay those bills, baby,” as she joked last week, Goldberg’s pitch positions Kimmel, 57, as a bridge between late-night edginess and daytime discourse.

Yet, the room’s temperature plummeted when Behar leaned into the microphone, her trademark Brooklyn candor laced with uncharacteristic venom. “Whoopi, honey, I love you, but this? Over my dead body,” she snapped, pausing for dramatic effect as co-hosts Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin exchanged wide-eyed glances. The audience hushed, sensing the rift. Behar, ever the provocateur, then dropped the hammer: “Jimmy’s hilarious, sure – but he’s the reason my grandson won’t speak to me anymore. Last year, on his show, he mocked my book tour for *My First Ex-Husband* as ‘therapy for the terminally married.’ Called it a ‘divorce diary for people who should’ve stayed single.’ My family quotes it at every dinner! If he joins us, I’ll have to hear that smug laugh every morning. No thank you – I’d rather debate Trump tariffs with a fork.”

The revelation stunned the panel and viewers alike. Behar’s off-Broadway play, a rotating-cast confessional about marital mishaps featuring stars like Goldberg herself, had been a hit in 2024. But Kimmel’s playful roast – part of a segment skewering celebrity memoirs – hit a raw nerve. Behar’s grandson, a die-hard Kimmel fan turned podcaster, reportedly distanced himself after the bit, citing it as “embarrassing grandma fodder.” Sources close to the production confirm the quip was lighthearted, but for Behar, it’s festered into a grudge. “Joy’s not one to hold onto silliness,” a longtime producer shared anonymously. “But family? That’s sacred. This isn’t politics; it’s personal.”

The exchange escalated into one of *The View*’s most viral moments this season. Hostin jumped in with empathy: “Joy, we’ve all got our Kimmel beefs – remember when he shaded my legal takes?” Griffin, the token conservative, chuckled, “Jimmy’s equal-opportunity offender. That’s why he’s great TV.” But Goldberg wasn’t backing down. “Joy, we’d hash it out on air – that’s what this table’s for! Forgiveness, laughs, and a side of shade.” Behar shot back, “Forgive? I’d rather invite Charlie Kirk’s ghost for a seance.” The cut to commercial drew groans and cheers in equal measure, with X (formerly Twitter) exploding in memes: #BeharVsKimmel trended alongside clips of Behar’s flustered deep-breath moment from a prior Trump spat.

Off-air, the fallout has been swift. Kimmel, vacationing in Hawaii per his team’s statement, responded via Instagram: “Whoopi, the offer’s tempting – free coffee and zero monologue pressure? Sign me up. Joy, your play slayed; tell the kid it’s all love. No hard feelings… unless you hate my Oscars bits too.” Behar fired off a cheeky reply on her personal X account: “Jimmy, stick to Oscars – leave the ex-husbands to me. But if you apologize on air? Maybe.” Fans are divided: Progressive outlets like *Deadline* hail Goldberg’s invite as a “bold solidarity move” against ABC’s “chilling effect,” while conservative commentators on Fox pile on, dubbing it “Hollywood’s victim Olympics.”

This isn’t *The View*’s first brush with internal drama. The show, now in its 29th season, has weathered contract sagas (including a debunked 2024 rumor of Goldberg and Behar’s axing), AI faux pas, and vaccine polls that left audiences shouting. Yet, its resilience lies in these very clashes – turning tension into Emmy gold. Ratings for Thursday’s episode spiked 25%, per Nielsen, proving controversy is catnip for the 2.5 million daily viewers.

As Friday’s taping loomed, whispers of a Kimmel cameo swirled, with ABC execs reportedly “monitoring closely” amid the Kirk fallout. Will Behar thaw? Could this reshape *The View*’s dynamic, blending late-night snark with daytime dissection? One thing’s clear: In the cutthroat world of network TV, where suspensions loom and secrets spill, no one’s seat is safe. For now, Goldberg’s dream team pitch hangs in the balance – a hilarious what-if that could redefine morning mayhem or implode in a hail of ex-husband shade.