Whoopi Goldberg missed Monday’s “The View” after becoming stranded in Sicily as Mount Etna eruption disrupted flights

Whoopi Goldberg was not onstage for Monday’s episode of ABC’s “The View” after she said she was stranded in Sicily due to disruptions tied to Mount Etna, an active volcano in Italy. During the program, a pre-recorded video from Goldberg explained that she was trying to get back to the United States but that “all of the airports are closed here,” according to Page Six.

Goldberg said she was currently in Sicily when Mount Etna “decided to go off today,” and she described the situation as ongoing for most of the day. She added that she would return “as soon as I can,” and joked that while people have “all kinds of stories about” their vacations, hers “takes the cake,” Page Six reported.

According to Page Six, Etna began an eruptive cycle in late June, with activity building over subsequent days. The report cited Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology for the timeline, saying the eruption cycle began June 26 and that an increase in lava flow was documented on July 5, contributing to flight cancellations.

Goldberg’s absence coincided with two other co-hosts missing the July 6 broadcast. Page Six reported that Ana Navarro was also unavailable, saying she was stuck in Florida because of weather conditions, while Sara Haines was dealing with storm damage. The combined absences left the program short on its usual lineup for a Monday episode, Page Six said.

With three regular co-hosts off the desk, “The View” producers brought in Joy Behar, who does not typically appear on Mondays. Page Six reported that Behar joined the broadcast alongside Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sunny Hostin, who were also part of that day’s on-camera lineup.

Behar addressed the reshuffling on air, asking viewers why she was appearing on a Monday, and the report said producer Brian Teta asked her to step in. In the program’s discussion of the change, Behar told viewers, “So you may be asking, ‘Why am I here on a Monday?’ I asked myself the same question,” Page Six reported, adding that she agreed to come in after the producer’s request.

Page Six characterized Goldberg’s explanation as the reason for her absence and reported that Goldberg was working through efforts to reach the United States as flight disruptions continued in Sicily. As of Monday’s broadcast, the show did not announce a specific return time for Goldberg beyond her statement that she would be back when she could get access to travel.

For viewers, the immediate effect was a full reshuffle of the July 6 episode’s co-host roster and an adjustment to the program’s regular rhythm. For the co-hosts, the episode underscored how travel disruptions and weather-related constraints can directly affect same-day production schedules for national broadcast television.