Watch: Joy Behar Announces Hiatus From ‘The View’
Whoopi Goldberg experienced a very different kind of fireworks light up the sky this Fourth of July.
The View cohost’s Independence Day holiday in Italy took an unexpected turn after Sicily’s active volcano Mount Etna erupted with activity over the weekend, leaving her and other tourists stranded on the Mediterranean Island.
Of course, Whoopi’s travel woes meant she was unfortunately absent from the ABC morning show’s July 6 broadcast, which saw Joy Behar return from a recently announced hiatus to fill in for the missing panel member.
“So you may be asking, ‘Why am I here on a Monday?’ I asked myself the same question,” Joy announced at the top of the broadcast alongside Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin. “But [producer] Brian [Teta] begged me to come in—on his knees, where he belongs. Why? Because we are down three cohosts today.”
Joy hilariously added, “Whoopi is using the old volcano excuse.”
They then played a video sent by Whoopi explaining her predicament.
“I am in Sicily right now, and Mount Etna, who is one of our active volcanoes here in Italy, decided to go off today,” the Sister Act star recounted. “We have spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States and all of the airports are closed here. So I will be back as soon as I can.”
“I know that we got all kinds of stories about our different vacations,” the 70-year-old added. “Well, I think my story just takes the cake. A volcano ate my homework!”
As for why cohosts Sara Haines and Ana Navarro also missed the post-July 4 episode? Let’s just say they were also impacted by the summer weather conditions, just with a little less lava and ash.
Instagram/Whoopi Goldberg
As Joy joked to viewers, “Ana is stuck in Miami because of weather. It’s always hot there, what’s the problem?” Behar explained.
Meanwhile, “Sara is dealing with storm damage,” the 83-year-old continued. “How many people are dealing with storm damage? Anybody in this group? No, just Sara!”
Ana also addressed her absence from the July 6 show after spending hours at the airport trying to return to New York City from Florida.
“I’m sorry I won’t be there tomorrow,” the 54-year-old told fans on Instagram. “I’m sure the other ladies will have great, insightful things to say. Take a little time to enjoy The View without me.”
Speaking of sparks flying, keep reading to see how more stars celebrated the Fourth of July holiday.
Alex Tamargo, Getty Images for Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
As Ever/Instagram
CJ Foeckler
Courtesy of The Surf Lodge & NYLON
Olivia Culpo/Instagram
Khloe Kardashian/Instagram
Khloe Kardashian/Instagram
Khloe Kardashian/Instagram
Dominic Carter
Danny Moder/Instagram
Courtesy of Mountain Dew
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