Joy Behar Calls Bill Clinton Accusers ‘Tramps’ On ‘The View’, But Will Her Apology Save Her Job?

Joy Behar of The View has found herself in hot water again over comments she made on the daytime talk show. This time, it’s not Behar’s nurse comments getting her in trouble, like when she made fun of Miss Colorado for speaking about being a nurse as her talent, sparking a huge backlash and boycott of The View. The latest View controversy surrounds Behar’s comments Monday, which may create an even bigger backlash. Behar referred to Bill Clinton’s accusers as “tramps” when justifying Hillary Clinton’s support of her husband despite the sexual misconduct allegations against him over the years.

Is Joy Behar Shaming Bill Clinton Accusers As ‘Tramps’ As Well As Other Sexual Assault Victims?

The View panel was discussing the fact that a wife would naturally come to her husband’s defense if she didn’t believe allegations of rape, sexual harassment and “groping” made against her husband, when Behar made the offhand remark that many now claim shames and victimizes women who are alleged sexual assault victims of the former president. Behar seemed to lump Bill Clinton’s accusers in with his alleged and admitted consensual indiscretions, such as the Monica Lewinsky scandal that sparked Bill Clinton’s impeachment proceedings, when Behar joked about the response Hillary should have made at the time.

“I would like to apologize to those tramps that have slept with my husband.”

News of the comment spread quickly online, prompting responses from Bill Clinton’s accusers themselves, including Juanita Broaddrick.

On The View today Joy Behar referred to bill Clinton’s victims as “tramps”- shame on you Joy – shame on you.

— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) October 11, 2016

The History Behind The Juanita Broaddrick Rape Allegations Against Bill Clinton

Broaddrick, one of the women Behar referred to as “tramps,” has accused Bill Clinton of raping her, yet court documents when she was called as a witness in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case show that Broaddrick denied the rape allegations against Clinton at the time. The story she tells now is different than her sworn statement, and when Broadderick was mentioned just before the “tramps” comments, Behar did point out that no charges resulted against Clinton in that case, given Broaddrick’s own statement at the time.

The full affidavit of Juanita Broaddrick, known in that case as Jane Doe #5, is still archived at the Washington Post site, and specifically states the following.

“During the 1992 Presidential campaign there were unfounded rumors and stories circulated that Mr. Clinton had made unwelcome sexual advances toward me in the late seventies. Newspaper and tabloid reporters hounded me and my family, seeking corroboration of these tales. I repeatedly denied the allegations and requested that my family’s privacy be respected. These allegations are untrue and I had hoped that they would no longer haunt me, or cause further disruption to my family.”

While that casts doubt on Broaddrick’s allegations of being raped by Bill Clinton, does that justify referring to her as a “tramp?” And does it justify referring to other women who are making allegations of sexual assault and harassment as “tramps” as well? Another accuser definitely did not agree with Behar’s choice of words, as noted in these Paula Jones tweets:

Did you call me and @atensnut @kathleenwilley a tramp? @JoyVBehar we demand an explanation, NOW!

— PJGirlie (@ThePaulaJones) October 11, 2016

How am I a tramp when I said “NO” @JoyVBehar so now media woman are attacking victims? Was Bill the victim when Monica sucked it?

— PJGirlie (@ThePaulaJones) October 11, 2016

Is Donald Trump Trying To Justify His Own Alleged Sexual Misconduct By Dredging Up Old Clinton Allegations?

The allegations made by Bill Clinton’s accusers are nothing new, being reported on extensively while he was still president. But with the release of the Donald Trump Access Hollywood video of him bragging to Billy Bush about sexually assaulting women by “grabbing them by the pu**y,” then calling a press conference with the Clinton accusers right before the second presidential debate Sunday night, the scandals are back in the limelight. Billy Bush, who is now on the Today show, has been suspended in light of his part in laughing at Trump’s remarks, then playing into Trump’s comments about actress Arianne Zucker when she approached the pair, encouraging her to hug Trump as an inside joke regarding his private conversation with the businessman. Trump and Bush had commented on Zucker’s physical attributes when she wasn’t present, and Trump said he might need some Tic Tacs in case he kissed her.

Hey Trump, guess what? You’re not running against Bill Clinton. You’re running against Hillary, and in 2016, women are their own person.

— Emily Jackson (@emanicholejack) October 10, 2016

Many Americans have pointed out that Bill Clinton’s scandals do not excuse Donald Trump’s behavior on the leaked video tape, even without considering some of the accusations against Trump himself: The allegation he grabbed a woman’s crotch which was recently detailed in an interview with Jill Harth in the Guardian, or a lawsuit surrounding allegations of raping a 13-year-old that is set for a hearing December 16, according to the Independent. Nor is Bill Clinton’s history relevant in itself to the election, as Trump is running against Hillary Clinton, not Bill. However, the discussion on The View stemmed from criticisms over Hillary Clinton’s response to the allegations at the time, and some of Bill Clinton’s accusers alleging that the former First Lady tried to intimidate them.

Joy Behar Apologizes, But Trump Also Faces Allegations About Inappropriate Comments Regarding Clinton Accusers

While some may agree with Behar’s point that it makes sense for women to stand by her husband unless she knows allegations of infidelity, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape are true, no one seemed to be defending Behar’s “tramp” comment on social media as of Tuesday. And for her part, Behar took the opportunity on The View Tuesday to apologize for her calling the women involved in Bill Clinton’s sex scandals “tramps.”

“I want to apologize. I never, ever intend to belittle sexual assault and the women who are victims of it ever … I made a joke … I’m sorry.”

Behar isn’t the only one in the hot seat regarding treatment of Bill Clinton’s accusers. CNN panelists accused Trump of exploiting possible victims of sexual misconduct for his own political gain, and ABC News revealed comments Trump made in the past about those same women, painting Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky in a very unfavorable light when he wasn’t using them to defend his own sexual assault comments and allegations. In 1998, Trump was interviewed by Neil Cavuto of FOX News.

“It’s like it’s from hell, it’s a terrible group of people… I don’t necessarily agree with his victims, his victims are terrible. [Bill Clinton] is really a victim himself. But he put himself in that position. The whole group, Paula Jones, Lewinsky, it’s just a really unattractive group. I’m not just talking about physical.”

Many people are waiting to see if Joy Behar be suspended or fired from The View for calling women claiming to be rape and sexual assault victims “tramps,” given that Billy Bush was suspended for laughing and going along with Donald Trump’s comments. Behar still appears on The View, and there have been no statements from the network or the show regarding possible disciplinary action against Behar at this time, but the backlash is still gaining momentum.

While Behar has denied past rumors she is leaving The View, could this prompt an early exit?

[Featured Image by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images]