Joy Behar has a thick skin.
The comedian revealed in a new interview that she was stunned when “The View” served her walking papers in 2013.
“I was happy to be fired,” Behar, 79, told Time in a story published Wednesday. “I was tired of the show at the time for some reason. I don’t even remember why.”
Ramin Setoodeh, who wrote the book “Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of ‘The View’,” told the magazine that Behar took the news to heart and even offered to leave that day, while Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who also got the boat burst into tears.
Behar was one of the original panelists on the ABC daytime talk show, which Barbara Walters created in 1997. Originally, Behar only appeared on the days Walters, now 92, was off, but she eventually became a permanent co-host.
Co-host Sunny Hostin credits Behar’s temper for getting her “The View” pink slip and canceling two of her own talk shows.
“She doesn’t hold a grudge,” Hostin, 53, explained to Time. “I think because she doesn’t remember what happened the day before. That’s how she was able to deal with this show. She just leaves it at the table and then continues another day.”
It also helps that Behar is happy to apologize, even if it’s not sincere.
“I’ve had to apologise, which I love to do to save my and everyone’s job. I do not give a hoot. Even if I don’t mean it, I will,” she told People last year. “Even if I look like I’m in a hostage situation, I’ll still do it because if you don’t, you’ll lose your job. and that of everyone else.”
The firing seems to have been soft as Behar continued to guest as a co-host in 2014 and 2015.
But as ratings for the chat party began to plummet, a new batch of producers was installed when Donald Trump ran for president. Shortly after, they asked Behar to return in a regular role.
An executive producer who insisted that Behar come back explained: “I just knew we had to get back into the cultural conversation. And I knew she would be the person who could do that. She’s always been the person. who says what the public thinks, but dares not say.”