Sherri Shepherd is speaking out after longtime friend and former cohost Jenny McCarthy declared she would only return to “The View” “over my dead body,” offering rare insight into what really went on behind the scenes. During an upcoming episode of the show, Shepherd addressed McCarthy’s recent podcast comments, where the former panellist described feeling blindsided by the show’s sudden shift toward heavy political discussions.
Sherri Shepherd weighs in on Jenny McCarthy’s comments on ‘The View’
Jenny McCarthy served on “The View” for one season from 2013 to 2014, after joining the panel. Sherri Shepherd, who co-hosted alongside McCarthy at the time, said she wasn’t surprised by her friend’s remarks. She recalled the exact moment producers pivoted the show’s focus, saying McCarthy panicked over the sudden change.
Shepherd said it was no secret that her friend disliked being on “The View.” In a clip shared by Entertainment Weekly, she recalled, “I remember the day they switched it to politics, Jenny came into my dressing room just like that. She goes, ‘Sherri, oh my God, what am I gonna do?’ And I looked at her, I said, ‘What are you gonna do? What are we gonna do!’”
Shepherd said everything McCarthy has shared about the experience is accurate and admitted she felt sorry for her friend. She explained that the show hired McCarthy after audience research showed viewers wanted less political debate and a lighter, more fun tone.
According to Shepherd, those plans later shifted, and while McCarthy initially came across as “light,” “funny,” and “sexy,” the show eventually steered Hot Topics back toward political discussion. Within weeks, producers pushed McCarthy to appear more politically serious, even adjusting her on-air look to reflect that shift.
Despite the challenges, Shepherd described her time on “The View” as one of the most intense yet rewarding experiences of her career. She credited fellow panellists, including Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, and former co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, with protecting and supporting her during an on-air misstep.
