“I thought it was a tough spot for her,” the host says

Joy Behar went in to Cheryl Hines’ dressing room before her Tuesday appearance on “The View” to “make her feel a little better.”

Hines appeared on the ABC show to promote her new book but “The View” hosts did not take long before asking her about her husband RFK Jr’s views as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Behar knew the interview might trend toward contentious so she met with Hines before the show.

“Well, I thought it was a tough spot for her because even though she’s not responsible for the crazy things he says, she’s still his wife,” Behar said on “Behind the Table.” “But it just shows you the power of selling a book.”

She added: “I went into her dressing room before to try to make her feel a little bit better.”

Behar’s instincts were good and the interview did get a bit heated. Particularly between Hines and Sunny Hostin. The host called out Kennedy as the least qualified Secretary of Health in history. The host was quick to remind Hines and the audience that Kennedy has no scientific or medical background, which Hines pushed back on by noting that one of President Obama’s Secretaries of HHS was an economist.

“He has also spread a lot of misinformation, a lot of chaos, a lot of confusion, and I think it’s just a very dangerous thing,” Hostin said. “I say it with the utmost respect.”

Hines came back pointing out there was plenty of misinformation in the early days of the COVID pandemic. She didn’t make it for before Hostin spoke back up.

“He’s connected circumcision to autism!” Hostin cut in.

“May I finish?” Hines shot back.

Hines returned to her COVID argument, saying that Anthony Fauci claimed vaccine would prevent transmission of COVID, calling that disinformation and misinformation.

Through this all, Whoopi Goldberg did her best to moderate the conversation. She added at one point that “this is not your fight, really, to be fighting,” but also noted that RFK Jr. won’t come on the show.

As tensions flared on set, sources close to The View told producers that Cheryl Hines “held her ground with surprising composure,” despite the pointed questions. After the segment aired, social media quickly lit up with mixed reactions — some praising Hines for staying calm under pressure, others insisting she should have distanced herself more clearly from her husband’s controversial stances.

Backstage, Behar was reportedly seen giving Hines a reassuring hug, telling her she “handled it like a pro.” Meanwhile, Goldberg later addressed the moment during a post-show debrief, reminding viewers that The View has “always been a space for tough but respectful conversations.”

In the hours following the broadcast, clips of the heated exchange began circulating online, racking up millions of views on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Fans debated not just RFK Jr.’s policies, but also how far public figures should go in defending their spouses.

While neither Hines nor Kennedy has commented further on the interview, insiders suggest the actress is determined to focus attention back on her book tour — though it’s clear that, for now, her husband’s political life continues to overshadow her own spotlight.