Elisabeth Hasselbeck criticizes Joy Behar for Carrie Underwood’s criticism

Previous The view co-host and conservative commentator Elisabeth Hasselbeck has slammed current panelist and comedian Joy Behar after the latter criticized Carrie Underwood’s decision to perform at Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration on January 20.

Hasselbeck, who served as a View cohost from 2003 to 2013 after her stint as a Survivor contestant — and who famously took part in a heated on-air showdown that led to Rosie O’Donnell’s departure in 2007 — made the remarks Tuesday night, hours after Behar on the talk show voiced her opposition to Underwood’s planned appearance at next week’s political event in Washington , DC

“That @TheView @JoyVBehar is going to simmer down my friend,” Hasselbeck went on to write Xlater posted a message speculating where she would eventually publish her extended thoughts on Behar “calling Carrie Underwood un-American.” It should be noted, however, that Behar did not use the term “un-American” to describe Underwood on Tuesday’s broadcast The view.

Still, Hasselbeck shared a photo of Behar to her Instagram story along with a caption that read, “Joy — @carrieunderwood is an AMAZING WOMAN. You could learn from her strength.”

Hasselbeck later appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show Tuesday night to elaborate on his thoughts on Behar. She began her chat with the host by saying that The view (which welcomed Hasselbeck back as a guest cohost in 2022 and again as a guest on Barbara Walters’ tribute episode in January 2023) has “refused to put anyone there who has a sweet tooth on most days.” She also said Behar’s criticism amounted to “nothing more than selfish personal publicity right now” as she felt Behar “wants to attach her name to Carrie Underwood’s name so she stays relevant because she knows the ship is sinking.”

Previous The viewBehar said she was confused by Underwood’s follow-up statement explaining why she chose to perform at Trump’s inauguration.

“I didn’t want to normalize him. She says, ‘I love our country.’ How do you love our country and support and normalize someone who was a convicted felon who really wants to destroy the country in my opinion. I don’t understand how you saying you love your country while normalizing this convicted felon? like I can say now every day,” Behar said at the table, later adding, “I wouldn’t be the person to say, ‘Don’t do it.’ because I personally believe in freedom of speech wouldn’t do that, no one has asked me, but that’s another story.”

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After news broke Monday, Underwood, country superstar and American Idol winner, would perform “America the Beautiful” at Trump’s inauguration, she received intense backlash from fans on social media, releasing the aforementioned statement on the go: “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” said Underwood “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity the future.”

Whoopi Goldberg on ‘The View’ ; Carrie Underwood.

ABC; John Nacion/Penske Media via Getty


Weekly entertainment has addressed Hasselbeck directly (as well as her representative) and to a representative of Behar at The view for comment.

Elsewhere on Tuesday’s live episode of The viewmoderator Whoopi Golberg expressed support for Underwood’s freedom of choice in the matter.

“I stand behind her,” Goldberg said. “If I think I have the right to decide to perform somewhere, I think (she has) the same right. I have to support. It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested in it, I don’t want to see, but that’s just me.”

The view sent weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.