Joy Behar's on-air comment about Sara Haines' past lesbian relationship causes major backlash

During a recent episode of The View,Joy Behar stirred controversy after revealing an unexpected detail about co-host Sara Haines' personal life on live television.

Did Joy Behar go too far?

While Haines' conservative parents were seated in the studio audience, Behar openly referenced a same-sex romance Haines experienced in college-a story Haines had previously shared only in private.

The exchange unfolded as Whoopi Goldberg began discussing the upcoming Behind the Table podcast, where The View hosts take a deeper dive into their lives and viewpoints.

Behar, known for her candid style, interjected, asking Haines, "Are you going to bring up that lesbian relationship you said you had back at Smith [College]?"

The unexpected remark sparked visible reactions from both Haines and her parents, who were caught on camera at that moment.

Haines tried to deflect the situation with humor, telling her father, "Dad, earmuffs! Earmuffs!" while gesturing to cover her ears.

Alyssa Farah Griffin reminded Behar, "That was off-air that she told us that," to which Sunny Hostin added with a laugh, "Now it's on-air."

Though Haines responded with humor, making light of the awkwardness by saying, "It's a good thing my dad doesn't always watch... But now he does," it was clear that her co-hosts were taken aback by Behar's candidness.

Goldberg added to the moment, noting, "Now he will."

Hains has no hard feelings towards Behar

Despite the awkward moment, a source close to the show shared that Haines holds no ill will toward Behar.

"Sara openly shared the story last week with an in-studio audience and doesn't feel any shame," the insider said, though Haines did not anticipate the detail being aired publicly.

Growing up in an "extremely conservative" household in Iowa, Haines attended Smith College, a liberal arts institution known for its progressive atmosphere, where she encountered a more diverse set of perspectives and experiences.

While her past includes a same-sex relationship, Haines has long been an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

"I'm a melting pot of beliefs," she said in a past interview, emphasizing that her upbringing and experiences have shaped her broad outlook on social issues.

While Behar's unapologetic humor and candor have become a hallmark of her on-air persona, this incident has reignited discussions about the boundaries of on-screen revelations, especially with personal matters.