Bill Maher Blasts ‘The View’ for Ignoring Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension—Unaware of Whoopi Goldberg’s Surprising Behind-the-Scenes Support

Published on September 29, 2025

The fallout from ABC’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues to ripple through late-night TV, with comedian Bill Maher using his platform to call out the network’s daytime powerhouse, The View, for its initial silence on the controversy. In a fiery monologue, Maher accused the show’s hosts of dodging the issue, only for new reports to reveal that Whoopi Goldberg had quietly extended a personal lifeline to Kimmel, catching the host off guard and adding a layer of intrigue to the free speech debate.

Maher’s Monologue: A Direct Jab at ‘The View’

On the September 19, 2025, episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the 69-year-old host didn’t hold back, dedicating much of his opening segment to ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show following the host’s pointed remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel, 56, had suggested during his September 14 monologue that the MAGA movement was politicizing the tragedy by distancing itself from suspect Tyler Robinson, whom he implied was aligned with right-wing extremism—a claim later clarified as inaccurate by investigators.

Maher, reflecting on his own 2002 cancellation by ABC for comments on the 9/11 hijackers, labeled the right’s response as “hypocritical” and accused networks of caving to pressure. He then turned his ire toward The View, hosted by Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Goldberg, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, which had not addressed the suspension in its Thursday or Friday episodes.

“I’m friendly with the ladies on The View, but they didn’t say anything about this, this week. Nothing,” Maher said, dripping with sarcasm. “You know, because it’s never been their thing to weigh in on the issues. It’s just an upbeat party show. That’s why they hired people named Joy and Sunny and Whoopi.”

He urged the panel to “go out strong, OK? It won’t kill you, I promise,” invoking his own firing from Politically Incorrect and quipping about ABC’s potential rebrand to “Always Be Caving.” Maher even predicted FCC scrutiny on The View next, joking about a fictional replacement: “Morning Wood with James Woods.”

Maher’s comments echoed broader industry backlash, including an ACLU-backed letter signed by over 400 celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Tom Hanks, decrying the suspension as a threat to free speech. Other late-night hosts, from John Oliver to Stephen Colbert, also weighed in, with Oliver labeling it “blatant censorship.”

The Backstory: Kimmel’s Remarks and ABC’s Response

The controversy stemmed from Kimmel’s monologue five days after Kirk’s September 10 shooting at a Utah Valley University event. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said, later mocking President Trump’s pivot to White House construction talk as the “fourth stage of grief: construction.”

Broadcasters like Nexstar and Sinclair preempted the show, citing insensitivity, while FCC Chair Brendan Carr praised the move and hinted at license reviews. ABC suspended it indefinitely on September 17, though it resumed on September 23 after negotiations. Trump called it a firing for “lack of talent.”

Whoopi’s Quiet Gesture: A Private Lifeline to Kimmel

While Maher was unaware, production sources reveal Goldberg made a discreet phone call to Kimmel shortly after the suspension, offering personal support and a promise to stand by him—without the fanfare that could invite scrutiny on The View. “Jimmy didn’t expect it,” an insider told entertainment outlets. “He thought everyone would distance themselves, but Whoopi was there in her own way.”

This subtle act aligns with Goldberg’s history of navigating high-stakes controversies, balancing public advocacy with strategic restraint. It reportedly left Kimmel “floored,” especially amid fears of network-wide fallout.

‘The View’ Breaks Its Silence—And Responds to Maher

By Monday, September 22, The View addressed the elephant in the room, with Goldberg opening: “Did y’all really think we weren’t going to talk about Jimmy Kimmel? I mean, have you watched the show over the last 29 seasons? No one silences us.”

Explaining the delay—they waited for Kimmel’s response and Friday’s episode was pre-taped—Goldberg slammed government pressure: “The government cannot apply pressure to force someone to be silenced.” Co-hosts like Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro decried it as a dangerous precedent, with Navarro thanking viewers for pushing for “truth and courage.”

On September 24, they praised Kimmel’s return monologue, where he expressed regret for any insensitivity while defending free speech: “What is important is that we live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” Goldberg tied it to broader rights: “If you don’t like how things are going, you’re allowed to. It is your birthright as an American.”

Key Figures
Stance on Kimmel Suspension

Bill Maher
Defended Kimmel; criticized The View‘s silence as hypocritical kowtowing

Whoopi Goldberg
Private call to Kimmel; public defense of free speech on The View

Jimmy Kimmel
Expressed regret but reaffirmed commitment to satire

The Bigger Picture: Free Speech in the Spotlight

Goldberg’s low-key intervention highlights the tightrope ABC talent walks amid FCC threats and corporate mergers. While Maher’s public call-out amplified the outcry—drawing over 475 celebrity signatures to the ACLU petition—her private gesture underscores a quieter solidarity that may have bolstered Kimmel during negotiations.

As Kimmel’s ratings rebound post-return, the episode serves as a flashpoint in the culture wars, echoing Maher’s 2002 ouster but with modern stakes: government intervention in broadcast content. For Goldberg, it’s a masterclass in discretion—proving that sometimes, a whispered ally is louder than a shouted defense.