Elisabeth Hasselbeck called out Joy Behar for her remarks about Carrie Underwood’s decision to perform at Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
On Tuesday’s episode of The View, Behar expressed her disapproval, stating, “I would not normalize [Trump]. [Underwood] says, ‘I love our country.’ How do you love our country and support and normalize somebody who was a convicted felon who really wants to destroy the country in my opinion? I don’t understand how you say you love your country at the same time as you normalize this convicted felon.”
However, Behar added, “I would not be the person to say, ‘Don’t do it,’ because I believe in free speech and everything about it. I personally would not do it. No one’s asked me, but that’s another story.”
Former View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck reacted to Behar’s comments, defending Underwood. “That @TheView @JoyVBehar needs to simmer down off my friend,” Hasselbeck posted on X. Later, during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, Hasselbeck elaborated on her criticism.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Hasselbeck claimed The View often lacks “anyone there who has a lick of sense on most days” and accused Behar of seeking personal publicity. She remarked, “[Behar] wants to attach her name to Carrie Underwood’s name so that she maintains relevance because she knows the ship is sinking.”
Meanwhile, The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg defended Underwood, saying during the same episode, “I stand behind her. If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform someplace, I believe they have the same right. So I have to support [her]. It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested in watching. I won’t be watching. But that’s me.”
Underwood, facing criticism from fans over the announcement, issued a statement addressing the backlash. “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,” she said.
She added, “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
