In a dramatic turn of events no one saw coming, daytime talk show The View is facing one of the most chaotic weeks in its long and controversial history. Just hours after conservative rising star Karoline Leavitt secured a stunning courtroom victory against the network and several of the show’s high-profile hosts, the first co-host has officially left the panel — triggering a media firestorm and plunging the future of The View into serious doubt.

The lawsuit, which had quietly gained momentum over the past several months, stemmed from a heated on-air exchange during a particularly combative episode earlier this year. Leavitt, known for her fearless, no-holds-barred commentary, appeared as a guest and immediately clashed with several of the show’s more liberal co-hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar. The incident, which quickly went viral, saw Leavitt accused of peddling misinformation and promoting “dangerous rhetoric” — allegations she vehemently denied.

Unbeknownst to the public, what followed was a lengthy legal battle behind closed doors. Leavitt filed a defamation and wrongful treatment lawsuit, alleging that not only was she unfairly targeted on national television, but also subjected to coordinated off-camera harassment and career sabotage attempts by the show’s producers and select panelists.

On May 23, 2025, the verdict finally dropped — and it sent shockwaves through the industry.

A federal judge ruled in favor of Leavitt, awarding her a staggering $8.5 million in damages and publicly condemning The View’s management for fostering a “toxic, ideologically driven environment where dissenting opinions were routinely suppressed and vilified.” Within minutes of the ruling going public, insiders report, chaos erupted on the set of The View.

The first casualty of the fallout came swiftly. Co-host Sunny Hostin, who had reportedly been among the most aggressive behind-the-scenes toward Leavitt, officially announced her departure from the show late last night in an Instagram statement that read in part: “After careful reflection, I have decided to step away from The View to pursue new opportunities. I will forever be grateful for the memories and conversations, but it’s time for a new chapter.”

However, multiple sources claim the decision wasn’t entirely voluntary. “Producers basically told her she could resign with dignity or be fired before the week was out,” an anonymous insider revealed to The Hollywood Post. “The network is panicking. There’s a fear of more lawsuits coming, and heads are about to roll.”

The scandal has sent ripple effects throughout ABC News. Rumors suggest Whoopi Goldberg is considering an early retirement amid the backlash, while Joy Behar — long known for her fiery commentary — has allegedly been issued a final warning by network executives after several of her past remarks about conservative figures resurfaced online.

Karoline Leavitt, for her part, wasted no time responding to the verdict. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Wire, she declared, “This isn’t just a personal victory. It’s a win for every American who’s ever been silenced, smeared, or bullied for speaking their mind. The hypocrisy of these so-called progressive platforms is finally being exposed.”

Public reaction has been intense and deeply divided. While conservative commentators and right-leaning outlets hailed the decision as a long-overdue reckoning for biased mainstream media, progressive voices decried it as a dangerous blow to free expression in public discourse.

Social media exploded with debate as hashtags like #JusticeForKaroline and #CancelTheView trended on X. Some high-profile figures even weighed in. Tucker Carlson posted a cryptic message reading, “The tide is turning,” while Alyssa Milano countered with, “This is a dark day for media integrity.”

Amidst the fallout, ABC has announced an “internal review of conduct and standards” at The View and has placed several producers on administrative leave pending investigation.

Industry analysts now speculate whether The View — once a ratings juggernaut — can survive this latest controversy. “They’ve weathered scandals before, but this one feels different,” media critic Jenna Clarke told Variety. “When your own co-hosts start jumping ship and your legal losses pile up, advertisers start getting nervous. This could mark the beginning of the end for a daytime television institution.”

Stay tuned — because this story is far from over.