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Carl Nassib: 'The View' Joy Behar's 'penetration in the end zone' joke called homophobic

'That inappropriate joke I made for daytime television - scratch it. Make believe I never said it,' Joy Behar said after the 'homophobic' remarks

Comedian and talk show host Joy Behar is being criticized for her distasteful joke about Carl Nassib, who recently became the first-ever NFL player to come out as gay. While discussing Nassib's announcement on the ABC show 'The View', Behar said, "I know he's the first active NFL player ever to come as gay but come on it's 2021, is this such a big deal?" As her colleagues corrected her and insisted that coming out was indeed 'a big deal', Behar cracked a crude joke saying, "You know after they said penetration in the end zone they lost me."

Ever since the segment aired, Joy Behar has been facing backlash for her 'homophobic' remarks. The comments did not sit well with her co-hosts Anna Navarro, Sara Haines, and Meghan McCain as well. They appeared visibly displeased while Behar reiterated, "I don't know that this is such a big deal." She later made a feeble attempt at an apology by terming her joke as 'inappropriate'. "That inappropriate joke I made for daytime television - scratch it. Make believe I never said it. We'll be right back," Behar said. However, she further banked upon her initial remark, adding, "I just long for the days where you can just be gay in the world and it doesn’t become a big deal."

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Nassib, an NFL player with the Las Vegas Raiders, came out as gay via an Instagram post on June 21, 2021. "Hey everyone, happy Pride Month. Right now, I am sitting in a moment of gratitude and relief. Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years. Only until recently, thanks to my family and friends, especially Connor, Cason, and Francis, did it seem possible for me to say publicly and proudly that I'm gay," Nassib mentioned in his post. 

'Too bad Joy Behar made a bad joke'

The announcement created quite a stir in the NFL Community as Nassib became the first-ever NFL player to belong to the LGBTQ community. His coming out was celebrated and lauded by fans all over. Nassib's Instagram post prompted the discussion between Behar and her co-hosts on the ABC talk show on June 22, 2021. Her joke was disapproved by a section of social media users, as journalist Steve Krakauer tweeted, "Joy Behar is why it’s taken so long for Carl Nassib and others like him to come out publicly."

Sports media agency Outkick wrote, "How do we know Joy Behar is privileged? Imagine the public reaction had Tucker Carlson or Joe Rogan made an anal sex joke the day after Nassib announced he is gay."

"Too bad Joy Behar made a bad joke about it today on "The View": very inappropriate," tweeted another user.

'That little joke is what this uproar is about?'

However, not everyone found Behar's joke 'homophobic' and worthy of the backlash it received. Even some members of the Queer community tweeted that they found the joke funny rather than inappropriate. "Honestly, if you think Joy Behar making a hacky joke is why more LGBTQ+ people don't come out... you really don't understand how the closet works. We're not scared of a mediocre joke from a long standing ally. We're worried about our physical/ Housing/ Job/ Legal SAFETY," tweeted comedian Brad Loekle.

"I'm sitting here thinking Joy Behar said something really off the wall, that little joke is what this uproar is about?" wrote LGBTQ photographer Branden Lee.

A third user, who called themself 'a flaming homosexual' wrote, "#TheView Joy Behar made what people are calling "an inappropriate joke" by saying "penetration in the end zone", that I, a flaming homosexual, find absolutely funny! It tingled my inside deeply!"

Another user drew a comparison between Behar and her co-host Meghan McCain saying, "People are going full force on Joy Behar, for a joke. But, let Meghan say what the FU*K she wants, whenever she wants. How many of us, have told a joke in bad taste? Be honest!"