Mount Etna eruption strands Whoopi Goldberg in Sicily
Synopsis
Mount Etna's eruption shut down Catania airport and left Whoopi Goldberg stranded in Sicily, forcing her to miss 'The View' — and prompting her to quip on video, 'A volcano ate my homework.' Joy Behar stepped in, while co-host Ana Navarro was also absent due to Miami weather, leaving the show three hosts short.
Key Takeaways
Mount Etna erupted, sending ash plumes that forced the closure of Catania airport in Sicily .
Whoopi Goldberg , vacationing in Sicily, was stranded and missed her slot on 'The View' on Monday .
Goldberg said in a video message that she spent 'most of the day' trying to find a way back to the United States .
Joy Behar stepped in as fill-in host, explaining Goldberg was 'using the old volcano excuse.' Co-host Ana Navarro was also absent, grounded by bad weather in Miami, Florida , leaving the show down three co-hosts .
Actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg found herself stranded on the Italian island of Sicily after Mount Etna erupted, forcing the closure of Catania airport and grounding flights across the region. The volcanic activity disrupted her planned return to the United States, causing her to miss her regular slot on the daytime panel show 'The View' on Monday.
What Happened at Mount Etna
Mount Etna, one of Europe's most active volcanoes, sent plumes of ash into the sky, prompting authorities to shut down Catania's airport — the primary gateway for the island of Sicily. The closure left travellers, including Goldberg, unable to depart. She reportedly spent most of the day attempting to secure a route back to the US before confirming she was stuck.
Whoopi Explains Her Predicament
In a video message shared with viewers of 'The View', Goldberg addressed her absence directly. 'I am in Sicily right now. Mount Etna, who is one of our active volcanoes here in Italy, decided to go off today. We have spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States and all of the airports are closed here. So I will be back as soon as I can,' she said, adding with characteristic humour, 'A volcano ate my homework.'
How 'The View' Handled the Absence
With Goldberg grounded in Sicily, veteran co-host Joy Behar stepped in to anchor Monday's episode. Behar explained the situation to viewers with her trademark wit, noting that producer Brian Teta had 'begged' her to fill in. She quipped that Goldberg was 'using the old volcano excuse' before the show aired the video of Goldberg explaining her situation from Italy.
Co-Host Ana Navarro Also Absent
Goldberg was not the only missing face on the panel. Co-host Ana Navarro was also unable to reach the studio in New York City, reportedly grounded by bad weather in Miami, Florida. The show was consequently down three co-hosts for the episode, an unusually thin line-up that Behar herself acknowledged on air.
What Comes Next
Goldberg indicated she would return to 'The View' as soon as flights out of Sicily resume. The situation underscores the operational disruptions that volcanic activity at Mount Etna — which erupts with some regularity — can cause for air travel across the region. No timeline for the airport's reopening was immediately available.
Point of View
But it points to something routinely underreported: Mount Etna's eruptions are frequent enough to be operationally predictable, yet Catania airport closures continue to catch travellers off guard. For a show like 'The View' — live, panel-dependent, and ratings-sensitive — losing three co-hosts in a single episode is a logistical stress test. That Joy Behar managed it with a one-liner says as much about the show's format as it does about the volcano.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Whoopi Goldberg stranded in Italy?
Whoopi Goldberg was stranded in Sicily after Mount Etna erupted, causing ash plumes that forced the closure of Catania airport and grounded all flights out of the island. She was on vacation and had been due to return to the US in time for 'The View' on Monday.
Did Whoopi Goldberg miss 'The View' because of the volcano?
Yes, Goldberg missed Monday's episode of 'The View' because she could not fly back from Sicily after Catania airport was shut due to Mount Etna's eruption. She sent a video message to the show explaining her situation.
Who hosted 'The View' in Whoopi Goldberg's absence?
Joy Behar stepped in as fill-in host for Monday's episode, humorously telling viewers that producer Brian Teta had 'begged' her to come in. The show was also missing Ana Navarro, who was grounded in Miami due to bad weather.
What did Whoopi Goldberg say about being stranded in Sicily?
In a video message aired on 'The View', Goldberg said she had spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States but that all airports in the area were closed. She ended her message with a joke: 'A volcano ate my homework.'
How active is Mount Etna?
Mount Etna, located in Sicily, is one of Europe's most active volcanoes and erupts with some regularity. Its ash plumes frequently affect air traffic at Catania airport, which serves as the main hub for the island.
