On Monday’s edition of ABC’s The View, normally meek and self-described “Republican” Alyssa Farah Griffin called out her fellow cast members for being hostile to her during a segment about “toxic femininity,” snapping back at faux “Republican” Ana Navarro for interrupting with a snide comment. That was until she walked it back a short time later with praise for co-host Whoopi Goldberg.
Seemingly skeptical that women could be toxic, Goldberg introduced the segment with a heavily sarcastic tone:
Apparently, the term “toxic masculinity” comes up a lot these days, but women took to Reddit to talk about when they've faced “toxic femininity” from other women by being told to act like a lady or getting bullied by other moms. Is this something you are aware of?
“Wait. Before we begin, let me tell you something. I think we have a legal note from the werewolves,” Navarro scoffed at the idea; a call back to earlier in the show when she attacked Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker who she suggested lacked the intelligence and character to be a senator.
Farah Griffin quickly spoke up to argue that women could in fact be toxic. “We've come a long way in kind of critiquing some of the male practices that are not helpful and that needed to be called out. And I think that women have made a ton of progress, but we can also be each other's worst enemies,” she said.
The former Capitol Hill and White House official recalled that “some of the worst bosses I’ve had had been women, and sometimes colleagues in the workplace who were women.”
She was immediately interrupted by Navarro who took a broad swipe at her and her former employer. “That's what happens when you work with Kellyanne Conway,” Navarro chided.
Defending herself, Farah Griffin called out Navarro and the show generally for being a hostile place for her:
NAVARRO: That's what happens when you work with Kellyanne Conway.
[Audience reaction]
FARAH GRIFFIN: I mean – Well, I can't really get a word in without you attacking me so I wouldn't say this is a totally different -- this isn't like a totally different environment of women supporting each other.
This was followed up with the infamous and hypocritical Madeleine Albright quote: “There's a special place in Hell for women who don't help and support other women.” Something she didn’t even live up to.
Unfortunately, Farah Griffin walked back her harsh comment and praised Goldberg. “I have to give Whoopi credit. You’ve been just like so supportive of all the women on this show because you've accomplished so much, and we're all coming up under you, and just looking up to you,” she touted.
She even tried to justify her flip by suggesting that “Women support women more than they don't, but I think it's worth acknowledging when we are hard on each other.”
Even before joining The View, Farah Griffin was apparently a target for hate from the rest of the cast. Prior to getting hired, rumors swirled that the cast detested her and were upset that she was set to join them as a permanent co-host. At one point, the tension boiled over on air with co-host Joy Behar comparing her and former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham to “recovering addicts.”
The View’s toxic femininity was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Procter & Gamble and Ancestry. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s The View
December 5, 2022
11:23:44 am. EasternWHOOPI GOLDBERG: Apparently, the term “toxic masculinity” comes up a lot these days, but women took to Reddit to talk about when they've faced “toxic femininity” from other women by being told to act like a lady or getting bullied by other moms. Is this something you are aware of? [Sarcastic tone]
[Laughter]
ANA NAVARRO: Wait. Before we begin, let me tell you something. I think we have a legal note from the werewolves.
[Laughter]
ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: No. I think it is real though. We've come a long way in kind of critiquing some of the male practices that are not helpful and that needed to be called out. And I think that women have made a ton of progress, but we can also be each other's worst enemies.
It's still the case, and I hate to say it. Some of the worst bosses I’ve had had been women, and sometimes colleagues in the workplace who were women. And I always think of the Madeleine Albright quote –
NAVARRO: That's what happens when you work with Kellyanne Conway.
[Audience reaction]
FARAH GRIFFIN: I mean – Well, I can't really get a word in without you attacking me so I wouldn't say this is a totally different -- this isn't like a totally different environment of women supporting each other.
But Madeleine Albright always said, “There's a special place in Hell for women who don't help and support other women.” And it’s something I try to live by. I think that we have a duty to try to give that back especially for the women who come after us.
(…)
11:25:57 a.m. Eastern
FARAH GRIFFIN: And I have to say – I have to give Whoopi credit. You’ve been just like so supportive of all the women on this show because you've accomplished so much, and we're all coming up under you, and just looking up to you.
I think – I'm glad you said that. Women support women more than they don't, but I think it's worth acknowledging when we are hard on each other.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Well said.
JUJU CHNAG: Yeah, I think that’s right. Just to be real about it. For real.
