Meghan McCain’s departure from The View stunned many viewers and fans, despite all the varying opinions about the conservative commentator, since her high-profile feuds with co-hosts have helped the show’s ratings since she first signed on. Her anticipated departure marks the end of a short-term era for the morning series, but not everyone seems to be so heartbroken over her big July exit. With McCain leaving The View now fully out in the open, insiders are spilling some alleged tea regarding behind-the-scenes issues that may have played into her decision to leave.
According to Page Six, sources alleged that Meghan McCain’s departure from The View had been brewing for a while, with McCain reportedly being miserable for months, especially after having a baby during the pandemic. Despite the co-host’s frustrations, The View is obviously still a major TV gig that one would hope could be a long-lasting job. But here's how the process allegedly went for McCain:
It was a difficult decision for her to make, and they got what they wanted. Meghan has been wanting to leave for a long time. She is sick of fighting this fight.
Allegedly, the ongoing back-and-forth tiffs between the show’s most prominent conservative co-host and her colleagues were seemingly happening more and more often, gaining more publicity each time. That was most evident with her May blowup with View veteran Joy Behar and her recent tangle with the show’s moderator Whoopi Goldberg. As such, it’s certainly reasonable for Meghan McCain to want to leave the show if it isn’t a mentally sound space for her anymore. (If it ever was.) She definitely wouldn't be the first to leave for that reason.
Her fellow View co-hosts allegedly share that sentiment, though in a slightly different way. According to Page Six, Meghan McCain’s co-hosts were reportedly becoming just as frustrated by the growing tension on the political chatfest, alleging that Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Ana Navarro were all pushing for Meghan McCain to be fired, as opposed to pressuring her to quit on her own terms. Sources alleged that Goldberg, Behar and Navarro banded together to talk with ABC News president Kim Godwin about their dissatisfaction with McCain, with the trio reportedly telling their relatively new boss that they couldn’t “work with her anymore.”
Whoopi Goldberg was allegedly the View host who pushed the hardest for changes to be made with Meghan McCain, which is arguably surprising in some ways, given their seemingly close relationship over the years. Not to mention the fact that Goldberg isn't the most hot-headed member of the squad. While she apparently didn't directly try to get McCain booted, here's how she reportedly approached the stressful situation.
Everyone was at their wits’ end — even Whoopi, and she’s the chillest of them all. Whoopi is never going to advocate for anyone to get fired. She’s not about that, but she was very clear that she no longer wanted to work with Meghan. Whoopi was clear that she didn’t want to work with her either. There have been so many well-documented issues, and [Meghan] has not made a good impression on new management.
Sources alleged the former production team on The View had Meghan McCain’s back before things changed over for Season 24. But of all the co-hosts, Meghan McCain reportedly had the rockiest relationship with fellow panelist Sunny Hostin. Sources alleged that McCain didn’t trust Hostin early on as she suspected Hostin “was leaking stories about her.” Things were reportedly getting so bad that the producers at the time told Hostin they would pick McCain over her, which led to further tension between the two for some time before they started talking more and leaning on each other during recent hardships.
Given the past drama on the show in recent months, it seemed to be the right time for Meghan McCain to leave The View for anyone and everyone's benefit. She can now enjoy her off-screen life as a new mom without the spotlight or the constant bickering. But even after she departs The View, I’m sure it won’t be too long before viewers see McCain pop up on their television screen once again.
