As any fan of The View knows, the show is no stranger to legal notes, brief memos that co-host Sunny Hostin often cheekily reads aloud to offer the side of any figure facing legal trouble who happens to be featured in a Hot Topic. Fans also know that more often than not these days, that figure is Donald Trump.
However, longtime co-host Whoopi Goldberg seemed to tire of Hostin’s legal notes this morning, openly questioning Executive Producer Brian Teta about the notes after Hostin delivered one to end a chat about the vice presidential debate, which included talk of the 2020 election and Jan. 6 insurrection.
“I now have a legal note! Haven’t had one of those in a while,” Hostin said. “Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to the 2020 election.”
Goldberg chimed in to say, “I find that so interesting,” before turning to look at Teta in the studio audience, who nodded his head as she continued, “This is what we have to do, these legal notes, each time to say what has been proven to be a fact, we have to deny it on their behalf, is that right?”
Teta replied, “We have to state the denials that they’ve stated.” The camera lingered on him for an extra moment, but he didn’t say anything else, which was when Goldberg responded, “One day you’ll tell me why.”
This got Teta talking again. He told Goldberg, “I think I’ve told you a couple times, but we can talk about it again,” but she insisted, “No, not this, ’cause I find it odd when everybody has seen it, and they know that it’s not necessarily the truth—”
She was then cut off by Teta, who said, “We’re showing what they’ve said on the record as their statement.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin, silent up until this point, said what we were all thinking when she helpfully noted, “We can do it off-air, guys,” and Teta echoed, “We’re out of time. The music’s playing.”
The music had, in fact, been playing over the whole exchange, soundtracking the uncomfortable back-and-forth to The View‘s jaunty new theme song.
With that, Goldberg agreed to wrap up the chat, smiling and telling the audience nonchalantly, “Alright, well, we’ll be back.”
The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.