Pressure has mounted on “The View” co-host Joy Behar since her controversial statements poking fun at Christianity made headlines last month.
“It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you,” said Behar, specifically referring to Mike Pence’s faith. “That’s called mental illness if I’m not correct.”
After receiving over 25,000 complaint calls from viewers and public backlash from Pence himself, Behar reluctantly took to “The View” stage to deliver what most considered a sorry excuse for an apology.
“It’s just wrong, and it’s an insult not to me, but to the vast majority of the American people who, like me, cherish their faith,” said Pence in an interview with Mike Allen in response to her offensive comment. “My Christianity is the most important thing in my life.”
“I don’t mean to offend people, but apparently I keep doing it,” Behar told viewers after Pence requested an apology. “It was a joke. Comedians are in danger these days.”
“I’m a Christian. I give money to the church,” she continued in her defense. “You know, I actually help Christians with my pocketbook, so I’m not insulting Christians.”
While she did privately call Pence to apologize, the Vice President was more concerned that Behar apologize to the American people.
He recently discussed the matter further with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
“You and I know that criticism comes with public life,” Pence told Hannity. “But I felt it was important that I defend the faith of tens of millions of Americans against that kind of slander, and I did so. I give Joy Behar a lot of credit. She picked up the phone. She called me. She was very sincere, and she apologized, and one of the things my faith teaches me is grace. Forgive as you’ve been forgiven.”
“I said to joy ‘Of course I forgive you,'” he continued. “That’s part of my faith experience, but I did encourage her and I’m still encouraging her to use the form of that program or some other public forum to apologize to tens of millions of Americans who were equally offended.”
Finally, yesterday, Behar took Pence’s advice to heart and delivered her much-awaited public apology on “The View.”
“So I think Vice President Pence is right,” said Behar. “I was raised to respect everyone’s religious faith, and I fell short of that. I sincerely apologize for what I said.”
Behar’s comments were brief but met with applause from the audience. Watch the clip in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UlLa9f3jXA
