Whoopi Goldberg and Sara Haines exchanged slaps during a live episode of The View on 23 April 2026, prompting guest Justin Theroux to ask: 'Why are we all hitting each other?' The exchange unfolded during an interview with Theroux and Kate Hudson, who were promoting their series Running Point.
The unexpected interaction briefly shifted attention away from the guests and towards the presenters. It later drew criticism from social media commenters, one of which was Jane Abshire, who described Goldberg's reaction as 'worse than childish behavior' and questioned whether her response was proportionate to Haines' initial gesture.
The On-Air Slapping Match
During the discussion, Theroux spoke about his experience working with Meryl Streep and her celebrated status in Hollywood. He described her as an icon while noting that, in his experience, she was 'just like every other actor', setting the context for the exchange between the hosts.
Haines then hit Goldberg on the arm, prompting Goldberg to exclaim 'Ow!' before striking Haines in return. The pair continued exchanging slaps, before the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actor reacted to the unexpected situation. His remark drew attention to the physical exchange at the table, and his question seemingly captured the surprise of seeing the conversation interrupted by the presenters' actions, diverting attention from the guests' appearance on The View and the ongoing discussion.
More chaos on #TheView! 👀 In perhaps one of the most peculiar developments on the air in recent weeks, #WhoopiGoldberg and #SaraHaines got into a slapping match during a live interview with Justin Theroux and Kate Hudson on 'The View.'
Posted by Entertainment Weekly on Thursday, April 23, 2026
Behaviour Draws Online Criticism
Abshire criticised Goldberg's reaction in a social media comment, writing: 'That's worse than childish behavior. The exaggerated "OW!" from Whoopie is nothing more than excuse to hit.' Her remarks challenged what she viewed as an excessive response to Haines' initial gesture. She argued that Haines' action was 'hardly even a tap' and added: 'I've never seen anyone as bitter.'
Another commentor says: 'They really need to get rid of Goldberg. Like that hurt.' She adds, 'She is a horrible person.' Meanwhile, a third commentor chimes in, saying: 'We are watching literally the most miserable women on the planet perform the most miserable slapping match to ever occur on the planet, told to us by the most miserable news agency on the planet.'
An Earlier Physical Exchange
The April incident was not the first time Goldberg and Haines had made physical contact during a broadcast. On 25 March, Goldberg used her cue cards to strike Haines on the arm after Haines made a suggestive joke about fellow co-host Joy Behar. However, it should be noted that the earlier exchange does not establish an existing dispute between the hosts nor does it confirm rumours of workplace tensions.
The View combines discussions of politics and current affairs with celebrity interviews, bringing several personalities together around one table. Its conversational format allows the presenters to respond spontaneously, sometimes taking a discussion in an unexpected direction.
Theroux's question highlighted the unusual nature of the interaction between the co-hosts. But while the awkward moment became a talking point on social media because of its unexpected nature, what really prompted the presenters' actions, however, remains unclear.
