Whoopi Goldberg Stranded in Italy After Volcano Eruption, Leaves 'The View' in Chaos

Whoopi Goldberg's absence from 'The View' is no ordinary vacation mishap; it's a volcanic eruption that has left her stranded in Italy, shaking up the show's lineup.

Joy Behar opened the July 6 episode with biting humor, questioning her own presence on set. “You may be asking, ‘Why am I here on a Monday?’ I asked myself the same question,” she quipped. “But [executive producer] Brian [Teta] begged me to come in. Begged me on his knees where he belongs. Why? Because we are down three cohosts today.”

Behar, 83, revealed that Ana Navarro was stuck in Miami due to weather delays. “It’s always hot there, what’s the problem?” she joked. Sara Haines faced storm damage at home, and then came the kicker: “And Whoopi [Goldberg] is using the old volcano excuse.”

Goldberg, 70, sent a pre-taped video message from Sicily, detailing her chaotic situation. “I am in Sicily right now, and Mount Etna, which is one of our active volcanoes here in Italy, decided to go off today,” she explained. “We have spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States, and all of the airports are closed here so I will be back as soon as I can. A volcano ate my homework.”

On July 5, Goldberg expressed gratitude on Instagram for the staff at Maniace Boutique Hotel Ortigia for their support during this unexpected crisis.

Despite the chaos, the show must go on. Behar joined Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and guest cohost Michelle Buteau to tackle various topics, including the Great American State Fair and the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden.

Buteau, 48, humorously remarked, “This is the best booty call I’ve ever had. I was supposed to be a guest on the show. Now I’m a host. This is not how I thought it would happen, but I’m so glad it did. A volcano had to go off before you asked me to come. I love it.”

The uncertainty looms over which cohosts will return for the July 7 episode. However, The View confirmed that former Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will appear as a guest to discuss her ongoing political battles with President Donald Trump and the Republican party.

The View airs weekdays on ABC.