Controversy erupted on ABC’s “The View” this week after host Joy Behar sparked outrage with a shocking, sexist insult aimed at newly appointed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. During Wednesday’s broadcast, Behar openly suggested that Leavitt, 27—the youngest White House Press Secretary in history—received her prominent position solely due to her looks.

“She’s probably been put in there because, according to Donald Trump, she’s a 10,” Behar remarked dismissively, implying Leavitt’s attractiveness was her main qualification. “You know that’s what it is.”

The controversial comment immediately drew criticism from co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official, who swiftly corrected Behar by pointing out Leavitt’s professional credentials. “It wasn’t her first job, Joy,” Griffin said firmly. “It was just her first press briefing.”

Further tension arose as fellow panelist Whoopi Goldberg joined in the criticism of Leavitt, albeit from a different angle. Goldberg expressed strong displeasure with remarks Leavitt made during her first press conference about eliminating funding for “transgenderism and wokeness,” arguing passionately that Leavitt herself owed her prestigious role to the very ideals she criticized.

Goldberg challenged Leavitt directly, stating: “Without that wokeness, you might not even have that job. Women weren’t invited to many tables in this nation until we fought for inclusion.” Goldberg, visibly frustrated, explained that what Leavitt described dismissively as “wokeness” actually paved the way for gender equality and racial diversity, including Leavitt’s own historic appointment.

Social media swiftly reacted to the heated exchange, overwhelmingly criticizing Behar’s personal attack as inappropriate and sexist. Viewers expressed disappointment and demanded accountability, arguing that had a conservative commentator made similar remarks, the reaction would have been far more severe.

One user on X wrote: “She got the job because she’s qualified, end of story. The sexism coming from Joy Behar is unacceptable.” Another fan remarked: “If I could achieve such a high-ranking role by being intelligent and beautiful, I’d absolutely take it. They’re clearly just jealous.”

The controversy followed Karoline Leavitt’s debut as White House Press Secretary, during which she introduced significant changes aimed at shaking up traditional media dynamics. Leavitt announced a new “new media” section within the press pool, inviting alternative media outlets into prime briefing room positions and pledging greater transparency by reinstating the credentials of 440 journalists previously removed by the Biden administration.

This announcement further stirred criticism from “The View” panelists. Sunny Hostin questioned whether these “new media” reporters would meet proper journalistic standards, while Goldberg expressed concern that the administration’s new approach might enable irresponsible reporting.

Despite this, Leavitt stood firm, emphasizing that the administration intended to hold legacy media accountable, calling out misinformation and pushing back against what she described as biased coverage of President Trump.

Amid the fallout from Behar’s remark, the broader debate continues over media fairness, gender bias, and the evolving role of traditional news sources in today’s polarized political landscape. For now, Joy Behar and her colleagues face continued criticism, raising pressing questions about the standards to which media personalities should be held accountable.