Kamala Harris’ office unhappy with ‘The View,’ ABC following false-positive COVID-19 test fiasco: Report



Vice President Kamala Harris' office is reportedly "deeply concerned" with the COVID-19 safety protocols of "The View" and parent company ABC after a false positive COVID-19 test practically derailed her interview on the popular daytime TV show.

What's a brief history here?

Producers unceremoniously yanked co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro from the set in the middle of a segment on Friday upon discovering that the two had apparently tested positive for COVID-19.

Harris was set to make an appearance on the show for an interview just minutes after Hostin and Navarro were removed from the panel. After a brief commercial break, co-host Joy Behar explained that the two made their abrupt departure after testing positive for coronavirus.

Harris ended up doing the interview remotely from elsewhere inside the building, but Hostin and Navarro did not return to the set at all.

In the coming days, it was revealed that both Hostin and Navarro were reportedly victims of false positive COVID-19 results.

BREAKING: Sunny and Ana have been asked to leave the ABC studio because they tested positive for COVID.#TheView https://t.co/DMIYrjHjid

— The Chat (@LiveOnTheChat) 1632497131.0

What are the details?

CNN reported Tuesday that Harris' office is not happy with the way things unfolded during the chaotic broadcast.

People reportedly familiar with the matter told the outlet that confusion was rampant from the get-go.

"One of the people explained that Harris' office required the hosts of 'The View' to take a PCR test within 24 hours of the interview," CNN's Oliver Darcy wrote. "That person said that a representative of the ABC talk show suggested the night before Harris' appearance that the test had come back negative."

That night, the report added, a representative for the show allegedly gave Harris' office the "all clear" to move forward with the Friday taping.

"After it was suddenly revealed Friday morning that was not the case, Harris' team was left puzzled and seeking answers about what happened," the report continued.

Harris also reportedly learned of the hosts' purported positive result in real time along with Hostin and Navarro themselves.

"Hosts on 'The View' are regularly tested for COVID-19 at least twice each week, people familiar with the matter told CNN," the report continued. "But to satisfy the requirement put in place by Harris' office, each of 'The View' hosts underwent an expedited PCR test in the afternoon following Thursday's shows, one of the people said."

"The View," Harris' office reportedly said, has not been forthcoming with the vice president or her office, purportedly leaving Harris' staff "deeply concerned" over how the situation evolved and quickly deteriorated.

A spokesperson for both ABC and "The View" declined to comment when reached by CNN for a statement on the debacle.

During Monday's broadcast, Brian Teta — executive producer of the daytime talk show — said that the producers pulled Hostin and Navarro off the set in an abundance of caution and were only thinking of the safety of the remaining co-hosts and their very special guest.

"In that moment, all I could think of was that we had to keep the hosts safe, and we had to keep the vice president safe. She could not walk out, no matter what," Teta explained. "And that led to some really awkward television that I'd like to have back, if I could."

BREAKING: Biden campaign halts Kamala Harris travel after 2 in campaign circle — including Harris communications director — test positive for COVID-19



The Biden campaign is pausing all travel of Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris through the weekend after two people in Harris's circle have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to various sources.

What are the details?

On Wednesday, a campaign spokesperson announced that a flight crew member and Harris communications director Liz Allen tested positive for the virus late Wednesday evening, according to The Hill.

Biden spokesperson Jen O'Malley Dillon said that Harris was not in "close contact" with either the flight crew member or Allen.

"Neither of these people have had contact with Vice President Biden, Senator Harris, or any other staffers since testing positive or in the 48 hours prior to their positive test results," Dillon said according to CNN.

"After being with Senator Harris, both individuals attended personal, non-campaign events in the past week," the spokesperson noted. "Under our campaign's strict health protocols, both individuals had to be tested before returning to their work with the campaign from these personal events. These protocols help protect the campaign, the staff, and anyone who they may have contact with; the importance of having such protocols — which include testing before resuming duties, regular testing while working in-person, isolation after time off, and masking and distancing while on campaign duties — have been illustrated once again."

The spokesperson also said that Harris has taken "2 PCR tests since October 8th, and the tests have all been negative, most recently on Wednesday, October 14th."

The statement added, "Regardless, out of an abundance of caution and in line with our campaign's commitment to the highest levels of precaution, we are canceling Senator Harris's travel through Sunday, October 18th, but she will keep a robust and aggressive schedule of virtual campaign activities to reach voters all across the country during this time.

Harris is reportedly set to return to the campaign trail on Monday.

At the time of this reporting, Democratic nominee Joe Biden still plans to go ahead with Thursday night's ABC town hall meeting, which was scheduled in lieu of a second presidential debate.