Disney Boss Responds to Backlash Over Joy Behar’s Mike Pence Joke
The comedian has come under fire for her comments about Christianity.
The View’s Joy Behar personally called Vice President Mike Pence to apologize for her “mental illness” joke that infuriated Christians.
The revelation was made on Thursday during the Walt Disney Co.’s annual meeting with shareholders in Houston, Texas.
The company owns ABC – the network that broadcasts The View – and other channels, including ESPN.
Joy Behar is under fire for her joke about Vice President Mike Pence. (Credit: Dan Jackman/WENN.com)
During the meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger faced questions. One came from Justin Danhof, who is general counsel for the National Center for Public Policy Research.
In audio of the event shared by the conservative organization on YouTube, Danhof slammed ESPN saying it “has seemingly become a 24/7 anti-Trump tirade channel.”
He called out sports journalist Jemele Hill for branding President Donald Trump “a white supremacist.”
But The View’s Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin especially angered him. Danhof accused the women of likening Christianity to a “mental illness.”
The View co-hosts Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Meghan McCain and Sunny Hostin. (Credit: The View)
He said: “Co-hosts Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin suggested that Christianity is… and I’m quoting them, ‘dangerous’ and that… ‘Christians suffer from mental illness.’
“In response, the show’s advertisers have come under tremendous pressure to severe ties with these anti-Christian bigots.”
Danhof accused Disney of being “willing to take a reputational and a financial hit just so long as it’s in service to bashing conservatives and religious Americans.”
Joy, Sunny and Meghan discussing Omarosa's comments about Vice President Mike Pence. (Credit: The View)
He asked Iger: “Do you think – like Miss Hostin and Miss Behar – that the Christian faith is akin to a dangerous mental illness?”
Iger responded by saying: “First of all Joy Behar apologized to Vice President Pence directly.
“She made a call to him and apologized, which I thought was absolutely appropriate.
“I happen to take exception [to] what she said. I don’t think it was right and I was glad to hear that she apologized.”
Joy apologized to Vice President Mike Pence. (Credit: Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
He also pointed out that Jemele Hill was “disciplined for the things that she said and the things that she tweeted.”
Danhof’s comments about Joy and Sunny did not really match what either woman said and he effectively misquoted them.
While discussing Omarosa Manigault Newman’s claims that Vice President Pence reportedly believes Jesus talks to him, Joy joked: “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.
“That’s called mental illness if I’m not correct.”
She later apologized and said she doesn’t believe all Christians are mentally ill.
Meanwhile Sunny, a Catholic, said when you have “a Mike Pence” who “puts this religious veneer on things and calls people ‘values voters,’ I think we’re in a dangerous situation.”
The lawyer also said that the vice president (who has come under fire because of his opposition to gay marriage and transgender rights) is a “hated figure” in his native Indiana.
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