Joy Behar sets departure from The View?

Variety is reporting Joy Behar will depart The View after her contract ends in mid 2022, ending a 21 year association with the US talk show.

Behar, 77, revealed her plans in a new interview for the paperback of the non-fiction book “Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of ‘The View’” by Ramin Setoodeh.

“I have a three-year contract,” Behar said in the book. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t leave if I want to, because they can’t really do anything to me at this point. I don’t see myself staying for more [time]. That’s it! I could be wrong. If I’m as fabulous in [2022] as I am now, I’ll think about. But the chances of that happening…” She paused to reflect. “You know, time marches on. I’m not a kid.”

But a spokesperson from ABC (US) denied that Behar would be leaving.

“This is not true,” a network rep said.

“Joy was asked what happens at the end of her contract and as she herself made clear in the interview, if she’s ‘as fabulous in [2022] as I am now,’ she will be in her seat at the table.”

Variety claims multiple sources on The View have confirmed that Behar has been floating a 2022 exit from the show. She briefly left the show in 2013, but was brought back in 2015.

The View has not been screened in Australia after being dumped by Nine in 2013.