For years, The View has walked a precarious tightrope between spirited debate and outright provocation. Now, amid mounting financial losses and deepening political backlash, that tightrope may be snapping. Following the shocking cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—a program once heralded for its ratings but condemned for its expenses—sources close to ABC suggest The View might be next, and Whoopi Goldberg could be shown the exit.

The parallels between Colbert’s fall and The View’s potential demise are impossible to ignore. Despite boasting the “number one” status in their respective categories, both shows carry massive overhead. Live audiences. Union-heavy staff. Sky-high talent salaries. Yet ratings alone no longer cut it in an era where networks are slashing costs and rethinking legacy formats.

And then there’s Whoopi. Once celebrated as a trailblazing figure in entertainment, she has recently drawn sharp criticism for controversial on-air statements. Her now-viral claim that life for women in Iran might be better than for Black women in the United States shocked even the show’s regular viewers. “It’s shameful,” said one media insider. “When you’re making millions to say things that alienate the core of your audience—and your advertisers—it’s a problem no network wants to solve with more money.”

Even Bob Iger, CEO of Disney—the parent company of ABC—has reportedly intervened, asking producers to pivot away from heavy politics toward more entertainment-focused content. But that’s easier said than done. The View’s brand is politics. Its hosts—Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro, and Alyssa Farah Griffin—built their personas on daily hot takes that trend on Twitter but leave sponsors cold.

“You have to understand,” said one former executive at ABC, “a single bad segment can make an advertiser pull out, and in this climate, we’re hanging by a thread.”

Indeed, the financials are damning. Though exact figures for The View remain confidential, insiders estimate the program costs tens of millions annually—rivaling Colbert’s production, which some reports claim was losing $40 million a year. That’s a hard pill to swallow for a company already facing rounds of layoffs and increasing scrutiny from government regulators like FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who has launched an investigation into ABC and Disney’s DEI hiring practices.

There’s also the political climate to consider. With Donald Trump reelected and promising to “clean house” across media and government, some see the pressure on The View as more than just financial. Trump himself recently applauded Colbert’s ouster and hinted that Jimmy Kimmel and The View could be next. He even referred to Kimmel as “less talented than Colbert,” suggesting his days are also numbered.

If Goldberg does exit—or if the entire show is axed—it would mark the end of an era for daytime television. But for many viewers and industry observers, it’s a long time coming. As one analyst bluntly put it: “When your show costs a fortune, polarizes audiences, and terrifies advertisers, your days are numbered. The View is no longer appointment TV. It’s a liability.”

The irony? While The View hemorrhages cash and cultural relevance, YouTubers, podcasters, and independent creators like Joe Rogan and Trish Regan are dominating the conversation—without massive staffs, studio audiences, or union contracts. As legacy networks fade, the rise of alternative voices suggests a permanent realignment in American media.

At this point, The View isn’t just a show. It’s a symbol of a media empire clinging to a model that no longer works. The question isn’t whether it will end. It’s when—and who will be left standing when the curtain finally falls.