Meghan McCain says goodbye after ‘a really wild ride’ on ‘The View.’ See her send-off
Friday marked the end of Meghan McCain’s nearly four-year run on “The View.”
In an emotional send-off, co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar bid a final farewell to their fellow host on her last daytime broadcast Friday.
Goldberg, who has sparred publicly with McCain on multiple occasions, joked that the 36-year-old was “never at a loss for words” during her time on the show. The Fox News alumna joined “The View” as a conservative voice in 2017 and was best known for her takes on hot button issues including abortion and gun control.
Her delivery and sharp wit cemented her as a favorite for some fans and a villain for others.
“It has really been incredible,” McCain said during her send-off. “It’ll be referenced in everything I do for the rest of my life. You women have been so incredible to work with, the crew, the producers, everyone works so hard. It’s been a really incredible, liberating experience and I will always cherish the time I spent with all of you.”
McCain announced plans to leave her daytime TV spot last month, saying it “was not an easy decision.”
“It took a lot of thought and council and prayer and talking to my family and my close friends,” she said at the time. “This show is one of the hands-down greatest, most exhilarating wonderful privileges of my entire life.”
Behar, also known for her on-air blowups with McCain over the years, reacted to the sudden news of her departure by praising her co-host for being a “formidable opponent” during their heated debates on the show, Good Housekeeping reported at the time.
“I have to say, you and I have in common, as do all of us here, that we’re on a show where we stick our necks out, we take the blowback, we take a lot of hits on this show and we stick to our points of view,” Behar said in July. “You have done that brilliantly for four years. I hope you can say that I did the same thing.”
On Friday, Behar joked that “every time someone leaves [the show], it sounds like a funeral. This is nothing new.”
McCain’s farewell also featured appearances by mom Cindy McCain, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and former House Speaker Paul Ryan.
“I’m so proud of Megan,” the elder McCain, who’s nominated as an ambassador to the United Nations food agency, told “The View” hosts Friday. “I think she’s done a wonderful job. I love her independence. Her dad would be so proud and I just wish her the best in whatever endeavor she chooses to do.”
Before her final goodbye, McCain again thanked her co-hosts and wished them the best of luck in their 25th season.
“This has been a really wild ride,” she said.
This story was originally published August 6, 2021 at 12:55 PM.