EXPLOSIVE BACKLASH ERUPTS: Joy Behar UNDER FIRE After Sexist Insult Toward Karoline Leavitt on The View—Public Outrage Skyrockets as Critics Demand Accountability and Call for Her REMOVAL from the Show

In what is quickly becoming one of the most controversial moments in daytime TV history, long-time The View co-host Joy Behar is facing an unprecedented wave of public backlash after making a comment toward conservative commentator Karoline Leavitt that many are calling sexist, inappropriate, and wildly out of line.

The explosive moment aired live during a fiery discussion about political discourse in media—ironically just days after Leavitt herself had gone viral for calling The View a “show of uninformed opinions.” But Behar’s clapback crossed a line viewers weren’t ready for—and now, the internet is demanding accountability.

“If Karoline Leavitt spent more time thinking and less time looking in the mirror, maybe she’d have something worthwhile to say,” Behar said with a smirk.

Within minutes, the backlash was deafening.

THE COMMENT THAT IGNITED A FIRESTORM

The segment was originally supposed to be a reflection on the role of young voices in political discourse. However, when Leavitt’s name came up, Behar couldn’t resist taking a jab—but the jab didn’t land the way she might have hoped.

Social media erupted. Viewers, activists, and even fellow media personalities called the statement not only disrespectful, but deeply sexist—targeting Leavitt’s appearance rather than her arguments.

“This wasn’t a political clapback. It was a cheap shot aimed at a young woman’s looks—and that’s unacceptable in 2025,” one tweet read, racking up over 100K likes.

Another viral post read:

“Joy Behar calling out Karoline’s reflection habits? Really? When you can’t beat someone’s argument, you attack their face. Classic sexist deflection.”

DEMANDS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY: #FireJoy Trends Worldwide

As the fallout grew, the hashtag #FireJoy quickly began trending across platforms, with users flooding ABC’s social media pages and comment sections with calls for Behar’s removal from The View.

Prominent voices weighed in, including:

Megyn Kelly, who tweeted: “If a man said what Joy Behar just did, he’d be off the air by sunset. Time for equal accountability.”
Candace Owens, who posted a video condemning Behar’s remarks as “everything feminism pretends to fight against.”
Ben Shapiro, who called the comment “a textbook example of how the Left attacks conservative women.”

Petitions demanding ABC take action quickly surpassed half a million signatures within 24 hours. Political groups, women’s rights advocates, and even former The View viewers have joined the chorus, calling it “the final straw.”

‍ DOUBLE STANDARD? Critics Say YES

The controversy has reignited a heated debate over double standards in media—particularly how conservative women are treated by liberal hosts on platforms like The View.

“Imagine if a male host mocked AOC’s appearance instead of her policies,” one commentator wrote. “There’d be protests in the streets. But Joy Behar insults a young conservative woman, and we’re supposed to laugh?”

Karoline Leavitt herself responded on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“This isn’t about me. It’s about how the Left treats young women who refuse to fall in line. They can’t debate our ideas, so they attack our image.”

Her post received millions of views, with even some liberal-leaning users admitting Behar’s comment crossed the line.

ABC’S SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES

Despite the media frenzy, ABC has remained noticeably silent—a decision that’s only added fuel to the fire. As of now, the network has not issued an official statement, and Joy Behar has not publicly apologized.

Sources close to production say there’s “intense internal debate” about how to handle the situation, with some producers reportedly urging Behar to issue a public apology before advertisers begin pulling out.

Insiders say this isn’t the first time execs have had to do damage control over Behar’s on-air remarks. However, the scale of this backlash is unlike anything the show has faced in years.

“This is not just about one bad comment,” said one anonymous insider. “This is about a pattern—and it’s starting to cost the network big.”

THE VIEW’S PANEL: DIVIDED BEHIND THE SCENES?

Sources close to The View have revealed tension brewing backstage, with not all co-hosts agreeing with Behar’s remarks. According to insiders:

Sunny Hostin is reportedly “furious” and believes the show needs to issue a formal retraction.
Sara Haines has allegedly distanced herself from the drama, refusing to weigh in either way.
Whoopi Goldberg, however, is said to be “standing by her friend,” further complicating the public perception of the show’s stance.

WHAT’S AT STAKE? ADVERTISERS, RATINGS, AND REPUTATION

With The View already under scrutiny for its increasingly polarized tone, this incident could trigger serious repercussions for the network:

Major advertisers are reportedly reevaluating their contracts.
Viewership is dipping in key demographics, especially among younger audiences.
Media watchdogs are actively investigating complaints filed by advocacy groups.

PR experts warn that unless ABC takes decisive action, they risk irreparable damage to their brand credibility—especially in an era where viewers demand accountability from all sides.

PUBLIC REACTIONS: A COUNTRY DIVIDED

Polls show Americans are sharply divided over Behar’s comment:

55% said the comment was “sexist and should not be tolerated on national TV.”
30% said it was “just a joke” and believe cancel culture is overreacting.
15% said they were unsure or didn’t watch the segment.

However, even some The View loyalists have expressed disappointment.

“I love Joy, but this wasn’t it. You can criticize ideas without dragging someone’s looks,” one longtime viewer commented.

KAROLINE’S RISE CONTINUES

For Karoline Leavitt, this moment appears to have further propelled her into the national spotlight. Following the incident, she appeared on several prime-time cable news shows, including Hannity and Tucker Carlson Uncensored, where she reiterated her stance:

“I’m not asking for Joy to be fired. I’m asking for women to be treated with respect, regardless of their politics.”

Her profile is rising, and she’s now being eyed as a potential keynote speaker at several major conservative conferences, with speculation swirling that she may launch a 2026 congressional bid.

FINAL THOUGHTS: MEDIA MOMENT OR CULTURE WAR FLASHPOINT?

In a media landscape where every slip is magnified, Joy Behar’s insult wasn’t just a bad joke—it was a flashpoint. One that exposed deep divides in how we discuss politics, gender, and media power.

Whether ABC caves to the pressure or doubles down remains to be seen. But one thing is clear:

This moment will not be forgotten. Not by Karoline Leavitt. Not by Joy Behar. And certainly not by the millions of viewers now watching The View more closely than ever.

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