‘The View’ Team Laments False COVID Blunder: “Led to Some Really Awkward Television”

It’s been a long weekend waiting for updates on The View‘s COVID blunder from last Friday’s (Sept. 24) episode, but finally, we have some answers. Back in the studio today, co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro took to the panel to explain what happened, how the response has been, and more.

To be clear: after many negative test results came in after the show, their tests were deemed as false positives. Hence, they returned (maskless) to the studio today.

“In case you missed it, Friday’s show took an unexpected turn when Ana and Sunny’s COVID tests came back positive while we were on the air,” Joy Behar, subbing in for moderator Whoopi Goldberg, opened. “Live TV, ladies and gentlemen!”

And the COVID scare wasn’t the only big topic from The View‘s Friday episode. Vice President Kamala Harris was meant to give an exclusive in-person interview with the ladies. After learning of the (false) positive COVID tests, however, Harris gave her interview digitally from a remote location.

“We want to thank Vice President Harris and her incredible team for working with us to make sure everyone was safe,” Behar continued. “And for still doing an interview with us under extraordinary circumstances. We never came into contact with the Vice President — nothing. We followed all protocols and precautions to ensure her safety.”

The co-hosts then cleared the air on the positive tests, stating that they all received “numerous” COVID tests after the show, all coming back negative. The result? “Everyone is safe, healthy and COVID-free,” Behar said. After Behar recapped the day’s wild events, she tossed it over to producer Brian Teta.

“It was just an unbelievable set of circumstances,” Teta said. “We found out moments before we came back on the air. In that moment, all I could think of was that we had to keep the hosts safe and that we had to keep the Vice President safe. She could not walk out no matter what. That led to some really awkward television that I’d like to have back if I could.”

The producer continued, turning the conversation to Hostin and Navarro: “I really wanna acknowledge and apologize to Sunny and Ana. In the midst of all this chaos, they were put in this position where they had this information put out on television. To make it even worse, it turned out not to be true later on.”

Behar cut in, stating that maybe it was better that the results turned out to be false positives. Teta agreed, clarifying that “nobody was ever in danger.” After the producer said his piece, finally, Hostin and Navarro got a chance to recap what happened in their lives after Friday’s episode.

“It was really uncomfortable for my results to be released publicly before I even knew what was going on,” Hostin said after thanking folks on social media for their support. “Before they were verified. Before I was tested again and again. There are real life notifications when things like that happen.”

Hostin delved into those consequences: “My husband is a surgeon, as everyone knows. He was in the operating room and had to be pulled out of the operating room. God forbid he’s operating on someone and he’s COVID positive. My child’s school had to be notified, and she had to be pulled out. My parents had to be rushed to be tested.”

The co-host also stated that it was a “particularly triggering” moment for her, as she recently lost both of her in-laws to COVID. To top it off, there were a handful of folks online who weren’t as supportive as those Hostin thanked at the top of her statement.

“While I got a lot of love and support, and there is so much good in this world, some of the hatred I got online and some of the folks that somehow got my phone number and said some things to me? When you meet your maker, you’ll have to figure it out with that,” Hostin concluded.

Next up was Navarro, who explained that she had just spent the day with Harris’ sister, niece, and brother-in-law.

“Frankly, my first thought was, ‘Oh my god,'” Navarro explained. “So, I’m thinking I’m Typhoid Mary and I’m going to wipe out the entire Harris family in one week. I had to call them immediately, call your family, because you don’t want them to find out from TV. It shows you just how instant, these days, news travels.”

Navarro went on to say she was “overwhelmed” by the support, but did go on to slam a notable tweet response from Donald Trump Jr. criticizing her about “the dangers of Covid-19 & obesity.”

Now, The View is finally free to host guests (today’s visitor was Leslie Odom Jr.) and guest co-hosts again. The ladies finished up their conversation by asking Vice President Harris for more time in another interview.

“Kamala! Baby, come back,” Navarro said. “We will bubble wrap ourselves, we will float in disinfectant.”

The View airs weekdays on ABC at 11/10c.

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