*Behind the scenes at “The View,” a quiet power play may be taking shape — and Whoopi Goldberg appears to be squarely in its crosshairs.
Sources say producers engineered Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s recent guest host appearance with a deliberate agenda — dial up the friction and let the cameras roll, RadarOnline reports. According to those familiar with the situation, Hasselbeck was given a clear directive to press Goldberg and her fellow panelists at every turn. “Producers were telling Hasselbeck to push Goldberg and the [other panelist] ladies even harder,” one insider revealed. “They know what makes great television — and they wanted sparks. Conflict equals ratings.”
ABC personnel reportedly offered Goldberg quiet reassurances that Hasselbeck was only passing through; skeptics within the production aren’t so sure. “Elisabeth’s return could be part of a longer play,” one source said. “Some people think she’s being used to slowly nudge Whoopi toward the exit.”
The behind-the-scenes tension arrives at a moment when Goldberg is already drawing heat from the audience watching at home. The 70-year-old has been a fixture on the ABC daytime program for close to two decades, but a wave of viewer commentary has emerged questioning her current performance. As noted by TV Insider, the criticism picked up steam on Reddit, where users flagged her on-air difficulty navigating the teleprompter — stumbling through story introductions and tripping over names.
Scroll to continue reading
A number of those viewers tied the issue to Goldberg’s long-documented dyslexia, arguing that the production team should be doing more to support her. “It’s painful watching her struggle with the teleprompter,” wrote one concerned viewer. Another said, “Clearly she struggles with reading that teleprompter more and more. It’s hard to watch, but more than that, I feel bad for her.”
The criticism extended beyond teleprompter troubles. A segment of the audience feels Goldberg has mentally checked out of the program altogether. “She’s been on autopilot for the best part of a decade,” one commenter observed. Another went further, saying the dynamic now “feels more disrespectful to the show, the topics, and essentially the viewers.” One viewer offered a pointed alternative: “I wish she would just go back to acting. I adore her as an actress and thought she is a B- at best as a moderator.”
When retirement has come up in past interviews, Goldberg has pointed to economic necessity as her reason for remaining. “Who can afford to do that? If you don’t marry well, you’ve got to keep working. I’ve got to keep paying those bills, baby,” she told Entertainment Tonight.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Whoopi Goldberg Faces Viewer Scrutiny Over Teleprompter Struggles on ‘The View’
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE
