Fox News’ “The Five” Criticizes On Air Kiss Between Sarah Silverman and Joy Behar, Calling It a “Publicity Stunt”

A recent segment on ABC’s The View sparked headlines and controversy after comedian Sarah Silverman surprised co host Joy Behar with an unscripted kiss during a live broadcast.

While the moment was met with applause and laughter from the studio audience, it was the response from Fox News’ The Five that reignited a longstanding tension between the two networks and sparked fresh debate about the tone and tactics of daytime television.

A Kiss, Applause And Criticism

The incident occurred while Silverman was appearing on The View to promote her new Netflix special PostMortem.

Mid segment, Silverman leaned in and kissed Behar, who appeared momentarily surprised before laughing off the gesture.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and the clip quickly made the rounds online.

However, not everyone viewed the moment as playful. On Fox News’ The Five, panelists were quick to weigh in, labeling the kiss as a “tacky, attention-grabbing gimmick” and questioning the intent behind it.

“It felt less like a spontaneous moment and more like a calculated move to generate buzz,” said co host Greg Gutfeld.

Dana Perino echoed the sentiment, suggesting that The View had leaned too heavily on stunts rather than substance.

Tucker Carlson Adds Fuel to the Fire

Though not a regular host on The Five, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson appeared as a guest that day and offered his signature critique laced with sharp humor.

“It’s like watching clowns juggle in a tent that’s falling apart,” Carlson said. “Time to pack it up.”

The line drew laughter from the Fox News panel but sparked immediate conversation online, with users divided on whether the comment was a humorous exaggeration or a direct dig at the show’s direction.

Carlson went on to describe The View as “an outdated circus that’s long overdue for closure,” suggesting that moments like the Silverman Behar kiss are reflective of what he sees as a broader decline in thoughtful conversation on television.

Public Reaction: A Split Audience

As expected, the viral moment drew sharp and opposing reactions across social media. On X (formerly Twitter), users weighed in with opinions ranging from praise to criticism.

One user wrote: “Silverman and Behar’s kiss was pure cringe The View is running out of ideas.”

Another countered: “It’s just a kiss, not a crime. Chill out, The Five some of us like fun.”

Still others used the moment to express broader frustration or fatigue with televised political talk shows altogether, with one comment noting: “More outrage over a kiss than over actual news. This is why people are tuning out.”

Media and Cultural Implications

The moment while short has reignited discussions about the boundaries of daytime television, especially when it comes to balancing entertainment with editorial responsibility.

It also reflects an ongoing cultural tension between legacy liberal shows like The View and conservative media outlets like Fox News, which have frequently positioned themselves as counterweights to what they view as media groupthink.

“The View has always leaned into boldness,” said media critic Alana Rhodes. “But that boldness is now constantly interpreted through a political lens, whether it’s a laugh or a kiss.”

The View’s producers have not issued an official statement in response to The Five’s criticism. Nor has ABC commented on whether the kiss was planned, improvised, or simply allowed to happen.

An Ongoing Rivalry, Reignited

The tension between The View and The Five is far from new. Both shows occupy similar time slots and frequently feature panel-driven conversations on politics, culture, and media often from diametrically opposed perspectives.

This latest exchange is just the most recent example of how moments that blur the line between performance and sincerity can take on outsized meaning in a hyper politicized media environment.

Whether or not the moment was intended to provoke, it’s now part of a broader narrative one that questions not just who’s watching daytime television, but why.

And as both shows continue to battle for ratings, relevance, and influence, it’s clear that even a kiss can carry political weight in 2025.