Share
News

Meghan McCain's Book Reveals the Real Reason Why She Finally Left 'The View'

Share

Meghan McCain says she decided to leave “The View” following her second day back from maternity leave in January when frequent foil Joy Behar said “I did not miss you” during a political argument.

McCain, who left this summer after four years as the daytime talk show’s conservative voice, told that and other backstage stories in a new book, “Bad Republican,” and in a subsequent interview with Variety.

McCain announced on July 1 that she was leaving “The View” because she did not want to be uprooted from her Washington life with her husband, commentator Ben Domenech, and daughter Liberty when the show returned to its New York studio.

She was more forthcoming in her book.

“I had been unhappy at ‘The View’ for a long time,” she wrote. “My unhappiness was like this giant wave that had been building and building and finally crested after I returned from leave.”

Trending:
Lib Host Jon Stewart Overvalued His Home By 829% After Saying Trump Civil Case Is 'Not Victimless'

The outspoken McCain had been the show’s lightning rod since joining, and also helped “The View” reach a new level of popularity and influence. It is currently trying out potential successors.

During the Jan. 5 show, McCain interrupted Behar to say “Are you kidding me?” when her colleague said the Republican Party is in more trouble than the Democrats. Behar was clearly angered, saying, “Excuse me, am I done? I’m not done.”

McCain pressed on with her response, and Behar referenced the interruption again when she was finished.

“You missed me so much, Joy,” McCain replied. “You missed me so much when I was on maternity leave … You missed fighting with me.”

Was Meghan McCain right to leave "The View"?

Behar replied: “I did not. I did not miss you. Zero.”

Host Whoopi Goldberg quickly moved in to shut things down, but McCain was heard saying, “That’s so nasty. I was teasing because you said something rude. That was so rude.”

In her book, McCain said she burst into tears during a commercial break. At the end of the show, she began crying again and vomited, she wrote.

“It is one of the most singular feelings of loneliness and anguish I have felt in my entire life,” McCain wrote. “It was a perfect storm of hormones, postpartum anxiety and a lot of demons on ‘The View’ coming out to bite me.”

McCain said she had asked the show’s producers for an apology from Behar but was told none would be forthcoming.

Related:
Meghan McCain Threatens Legal Action Against 'The View' After Host Accuses Her of Crime

A spokeswoman for “The View” said Tuesday that Behar had no plans to comment.

There was no immediate comment from “The View” about McCain’s book.

McCain said that despite their political battles, she felt she and Behar had a mutual understanding and respect. But she wrote that they did not speak again offstage after that incident.

When McCain announced on the air July 1 that she would soon be leaving, Behar said, “I have really, really appreciated the fact that you were a formidable opponent in many ways and that you spoke your mind. You’re no snowflake, missy.”

“The View” has been filled with backstage drama ever since its invention by Barbara Walters in the mid-1990s. In her book, McCain talks about how wearing it was when stories about what happened off-air were leaked to the media.

She wrote that the show had a “toxic” atmosphere and that “working at ‘The View’ brings out the worst in people.”

McCain is the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , ,
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Conversation