In a moment that sent shockwaves across daytime television, Fox News personality Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, widely known as “Kennedy,” delivered a jaw-dropping on-air insult aimed directly at The View co-host Joy Behar. The incident, which unfolded during a segment meant to showcase Kennedy’s guest appearance on the long-running talk show, quickly spiraled into one of the most talked-about media moments of the week.

While discussing her experience as a potential guest host on The View, Kennedy unexpectedly turned the conversation into a personal attack, calling Behar a “talking hemorrhoid in an auburn wig.” The comment, aired live, elicited a stunned silence from the studio audience and co-hosts alike—followed by an online frenzy that spread like wildfire across social media platforms.

A Light Segment Turns Combustible

Initially framed as a standard on-air audition, Kennedy’s appearance was expected to follow The View’s usual formula of lively political and cultural conversation. But those expectations evaporated when Kennedy launched into an unscripted critique of the show’s internal dynamics—culminating in her viral jab at Behar.

“Everyone tiptoes around Joy,” Kennedy said before dropping the explosive remark. “But sometimes, the loudest voice in the room is just a talking hemorrhoid in an auburn wig.”

The room froze. The show’s co-hosts—including Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin—appeared visibly caught off guard, while Behar remained silent. Producers reportedly cut to a commercial break earlier than planned, and audience members whispered among themselves as the tension lingered even after cameras stopped rolling.

A Calculated Shot or Off-the-Cuff Fire?

Insiders and media analysts are now questioning Kennedy’s motives: Was the comment a spontaneous outburst, or part of a deliberate strategy to distinguish herself as a bold, unfiltered presence on the show?

Kennedy, known for her libertarian-leaning political stance and no-nonsense commentary during her time on Fox Business and MTV, has never shied away from confrontation. Her blunt assessment of Behar may resonate with a segment of The View’s audience—and critics—who have grown weary of Behar’s dominant presence and frequent political tangents.

Media strategist Erica Marsh told The Atlantic Journal, “This could be Kennedy’s power play—an attempt to replace Behar by positioning herself as the alternative voice. It was risky, but it got people talking. And in daytime TV, that’s the first step toward relevance.”

Social Media Divided

Unsurprisingly, reactions to the moment have been sharply polarized. Some praised Kennedy’s candor and took her side, framing the insult as an overdue critique of a co-host seen by some viewers as abrasive and overbearing.

“Honestly, Kennedy said what most of us have thought for years,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Behar steamrolls every conversation and no one checks her.”

Others, however, decried the comment as disrespectful and inappropriate for daytime television. “You don’t have to agree with Joy, but that crossed the line into gross personal attack,” another viewer wrote. “It’s not wit. It’s cruelty.”

The moment has reignited conversations about the tone of The View, the evolving role of daytime television in American political discourse, and whether civility has any place in such a charged media landscape.

Is This the Beginning of a Power Shift?

Rumors have long swirled about potential shake-ups on The View, especially with ongoing debates over the show’s ideological balance. Behar, a co-host since the show’s early days in 1997, has often been a polarizing figure due to her outspoken liberal positions and fiery exchanges with guests and fellow hosts.

Kennedy’s appearance, however incendiary, has sparked speculation that she may be positioning herself as a regular—perhaps even a replacement for one of the show’s veteran voices.

“She may have just started her campaign to become a permanent fixture,” said TV analyst Brian Soto. “The producers of The View are well aware that controversy drives ratings. And Kennedy’s moment might’ve been less a slip—and more a strategic audition.”

What’s Next for Behar and Kennedy?

As of Sunday evening, ABC and the producers of The View have made no public comment on Kennedy’s remarks or her future involvement with the show. Behar, too, has remained silent on the issue—at least publicly.

Sources close to the show say there’s “no immediate plan” to remove Behar, but “the energy around Kennedy’s moment” is being monitored closely.

Whether this was a one-time outburst or the opening salvo in a larger feud remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Kennedy has forced the spotlight squarely onto herself—and onto The View’s increasingly turbulent table.

As viewers and insiders alike wait to see how this plays out, the bigger question looms: Is this the kind of dynamic The View needs to stay relevant in 2025? Or has Kennedy gone too far in pursuit of a seat at one of television’s most powerful tables?