Unprofessional ‘The View’: Political Dodge Over Kimmel Controversy

The ‘The View’ co-hosts maintained their radio silence over ABC’s indefinite suspension of their colleague, Jimmy Kimmel, once more on Friday. Their lack of comment on the mater is especially intriguing, considering their programme, typically recorded on Thursdays for airing on Fridays, had ample opportunity to touch on the incident. Whoopi Goldberg, the show’s moderator, traditionally takes Fridays off, further minimizing the panel’s numbers. Their conversation nonetheless veered into political territory, rather cynically featuring points from Kamala Harris’ latest book.

Although they took a clear stance of avoidance on the Kimmel controversy, ‘The View’ took no qualms in dedicating a segment to political discussion, a move that seems rather eyebrow-raising given Kamala Harris’ involvement. Harris, a political figure who has not been free from controversy herself, was the focal point of their conversation. The logic behind promoting her political ideology, especially in light of recent events, remains somewhat puzzling.

But, of course, their show must go on – the hosts of ‘The View’ returned to their usual comedic relief segment hosted by Joy Behar on Friday. A laugh is what she needed most, or so she told her audience, presumably with little to no thought about the current tensions spiraling from the Kimmel incident. Their scheduled guest, a veteran comedian named Andy Huggins, seemed happy to participate. His presence served as a reminder, albeit a rather ironic one, for the audience that laughter, not controversy, reigns supreme.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel, a well-known face of ABC, was abruptly yanked from the airwaves. His crime? Distasteful comments he made following the tragedy surrounding Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s harsh words, attempting to paint those mourning Kirk’s passing in a negative light, struck discordant notes far and wide. He criticized the MAGA supporters, accusing them of trying to reframe the narrative surrounding Kirk’s death.

Forcibly referring to the MAGA community, Kimmel suggested that they were attempting to whitewash the abhorrent act that lead to Charlie Kirk’s untimely demise. A rather short-sighted move, as it only served to stir up more controversy. Kimmel’s assumption that they were leveraging the tragic episode to score political mileage worked against him, bringing about his solidarity confinement.

The former figurehead, Charlie Kirk, had maintained unconventional opinions himself, insisting that hate speech was not a real phenomenon. Rather courageously, he defended his position, despite the overwhelming backlash. Unafraid of criticism, Kirk stood his ground, voicing his strong belief on public platforms, showing no regret.

Unflinchingly, Charlie Kirk expressed distaste for marginalized communities, inevitably bringing scorn and controversy his way. But all of these encounters were seen as chances by Kirk to reiterate his trenchant belief that hate speech didn’t exist. A stance undoubtedly hard to digest for some, but one that stood untamed and undeterred.

This belief spilled over into Kirk’s 2024 social media posts, where the unabashed commentator penned, ‘Ugly speech exists. Grotesque speech is real. Evil speech occurs. But they are all safeguarded by the First Amendment.’ Shock waves from his audacious comments undoubtedly echoed through the digital sphere.

Charlie Kirk’s controversial position on speech, and his ultimate end, unfortunately, provided fodder for divisive individuals like Jimmy Kimmel. Yet, through his actions, the beloved ABC host showcased nothing but contempt for those mourning a lost life, regardless of the departed’s contentious views.

Inevitably, the ABC network responded. The network made a decision that reflected public sentiment, pulling Kimmel from the air indefinitely due to his unforgiving characterization of the MAGA community in the wake of such a sensitive event. A halt to operations certainly not part of their usual broadcasts and a harsh reminder for Kimmel and others regarding respectful discourse, even in times of controversy.

Interestingly, amidst all the turmoil, the hosts of ‘The View’ found solace in the seemingly unrelated comedy of Andy Huggins. Known to lighten the mood with his half-century’s worth of comedic experience, even he could not thoroughly divert the audience’s attention from the glaring absence of any commentary on the Kimmel predicament.

Yet, as the situation unraveled with Jimmy Kimmel and public discourse continued to swing, the hosts of ‘The View’ went about business as usual. Amidst their yuks and chuckles, they conveniently sidestepped the issue, burying their heads in comedic sand while skimming over a subject that demanded their attention and analysis.

Whether this evasion was a deliberate move or a mere oversight, it conveyed a certain indifference, if not disregard. The usual chatterboxes of ‘The View’ chose not to stand up and voice their opinions, masking their evident silence with laughter and distractions.

So, as laughter echoed from ‘The View’ set and sprinklings of politics slid in under the guise of discussing Kamala Harris’ book, one wondered where their sense of social responsibility had vanished. Their silence on the Kimmel issue, along with their convenient focus on other matters, raises more questions than it answers.

Investigating the matter would have certainly elevated their platform and audience trust, but nevertheless, comedy reigned king. And while they cackled away during Behar’s ‘Comedy Corner’, significant issues of concern were left unaddressed, swept under the rug of corporate caution.

Conclusively, the Kimmel controversy seems to have set a precedent for the hosts of ‘The View’, a stark reminder of where battle lines are drawn when it comes to commentary. Their silence on the issue, combined with their focus on low-stakes hilarity, perhaps suggests a reluctance to swim in troubled political waters.