The star of the film “My Best Friend’s Wedding” made a gesture in support of a cherished cause when he walked off the set of “The View” on Friday in “protest.”
Dermot Mulroney, who has also had starring roles in films like “Young Guns,” “Point of No Return,” and, more recently, “Secret Invasion,” was being interviewed by the ladies of The View about his latest projects, family life, the secret to his success (“I work my tail off”) and being a father to teenagers.
Several minutes into the interview, however, Mulroney asked co-host Joy Behar if the program was about to go into a commercial break.
“We are,” Behar responded.
“First — I want to do this symbolically and in solidarity with the writers,” said Mulroney, a reference to the ongoing writer’s strike by members of the Writer’s Guild of America.
“I’m going to walk off your show,” Mulroney said. “I’ll see you on the picket lines.”
But, according to industry mag Variety: “After his walk-off gesture, Mulroney returned to the stage for photos with ‘The View’ hosts during commercial break.”
Variety also noted that the walk-off did not happen live.
“Even though Mulroney’s segment was pre-taped, his segment is planned to air exactly as it happened, Variety hears, and the moment with him leaving the stage is not expected to be edited out. (In the summer months, ‘The View’ airs live four days per week, but Friday shows are pre-taped),” the magazine reported.
“Since I have such respect for ‘The View,’ a news program with a heart, it was there that I felt comfortable enough to draw attention to the ongoing WGA strike for fair wages and working hours, as I find it incredibly important to continue to support the union,” Mulroney said in a statement to Variety.
Last week, co-host Whoopi Goldberg held back tears as she introduced a “new m an behind the camera.”
Goldberg kicked off the segment by noting the network and show have made a slew of changes recently, which included the crew at “The View.”
Before getting into the topics that the table would be touching on, Goldberg introduced the newest member of the show’s family.
“We got a new man behind the camera. Hey Paul,” Whoopi said, with other members of the table saying, “Hi, Paul” as they noted the writer’s strike that has hit many other shows in Hollywood.
Near the end of the show, Whoopi welcomed viewers back and held up a notecard to ask a producer if this was the moment she clearly was not ready for — announcing that producer Rob Bruce Baron was leaving.
Baron has worked in television for over 40 years and has spent all 26 seasons working for “The View.”
“Is this? Ohh, yeah,” she said, looking down at the notecard and holding back tears.
“Rob is retiring today after 40 years in television. Rob has been with The View since Day 1, 26 seasons.”
“Don’t leave!” Whoopi called out to Rob as she continued to hold back tears.
The show made headlines earlier this week when Goldberg claimed “American Idol” contributed to the “beginning of the downfall of society,” which led to her arguing with executive producer Brian Teta and some pushback from her own colleagues.
The conversation began when Goldberg kicked off a segment detailing 18-year-old Hawaii-born singer Iam Tongi winning Season 21 of the show.
“We, as a society, love to watch stuff to judge folks,” Goldberg said. “You know, I’ve always thought that the beginning of the downfall of society was with ― what’s the name of that show? I always tell you that,” she continued, looking over to Teta.
“ABC’s ‘American Idol,’” replied Teta before the audience let out a laugh. ABC notably is also the network that airs “The View.”