Abby Huntsman Returns to ‘The View’ as Guest Host, Reflects on Free Speech and Democracy Former cohost Abby Huntsman made a surprise return to The View on March 23 as a guest host during Alyssa Farah Griffin’s maternity leave. Joining Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Sunny Hostin, Huntsman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in public discourse amid a challenging political climate. Despite her past criticism of the show, which she described as “toxic” in 2021, she embraced the role with a renewed sense of purpose. Huntsman opened the segment by acknowledging the passage of time and the unique bond shared with the cohosts, including her former colleague Sara Haines. She reflected on her own experience of giving birth on the show and the shared journey of pregnancy among the cast. “There’s something so special to having a baby on the show, because you go through it together,” she said. The episode also served as a platform for Huntsman to address broader concerns about the state of free media in the U.S. She emphasized the fragility of democratic discourse, drawing from her childhood in China and her father’s service to the country. “I grew up many years living in China with my family. My dad served the country. I know what it’s like to wake up and try to go to Huffington Post and your blog, and you can’t read it,” she recalled. Huntsman highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives in public debate, stressing that the show’s role in fostering open dialogue is both a privilege and a responsibility. “I sit at this table not taking it for granted,” she said. “There are a lot of things I’m concerned about, but one of them has been our free media and how that’s been threatened in more ways lately than ever before.#the_view #whoopi_goldberg #abby_huntsman #alyssa_farah_griffin #sara_haines
Abby Huntsman Returns to ‘The View’ After Slamming Show’s Culture Abby Huntsman made a notable return to The View on Monday, rejoining the ABC talk show after previously criticizing its “toxic culture.” The conservative commentator, who left the program in 2020, reunited with fellow hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Sunny Hostin. Huntsman, 39, filled in for Alyssa Farah Griffin during her maternity leave, marking her latest appearance on the set. Huntsman, a former Fox & Friends host and daughter of Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, Jr., had previously departed The View after two years on the show. Her exit in 2020 was marked by public disputes, including a feud with co-host Meghan McCain. In a 2021 episode of her podcast I Wish Somebody Told Me, Huntsman criticized the show’s environment, accusing ABC executives of fostering a culture focused on “money and the tabloids.” She described the atmosphere as one where “people act in ways that were not OK,” calling it a “toxic environment.” Huntsman’s departure was also linked to her decision to join her father’s unsuccessful 2020 campaign for Utah governor. At the time, she expressed relief at leaving the show, stating that walking out of the building felt like “living again.” She described the experience as emotionally draining, saying she had been “not present” for nearly two years. Despite her past criticisms, Huntsman’s return to The View was met with warmth from her former colleagues. She reportedly had “warm goodbyes” with the panelists before leaving in 2020, emphasizing her affection for her co-hosts. In a 2020 statement, she called ABC her “family” and expressed hope to remain connected. During her recent appearance, Huntsman joined the panel for a discussion with Senator Cory Booker.#the_view #whoopi_goldberg #ana_navarro #abby_huntsman #sara_haines
