Whoopi Goldberg turned away from the table laughing after Bowen Yang joked that JD Vance was “a pope killer” during his April 24, 2025, appearance on The View. Joy Behar immediately clarified that Yang did not mean the phrase literally.
What Bowen Yang said on The View
The hosts were discussing Yang’s portrayal of Vance on Saturday Night Live. After they praised his impression, Yang said he had initially thought someone else might be better suited to the role, then joked: “I mean, look, the guy’s a pope killer, OK?” TheWrap reported the exchange on April 24, 2025: TheWrap’s account of the segment.
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How Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar reacted
Goldberg turned away from the table, laughing, and said, “somebody had to say it.” Behar added, “He doesn’t mean it literally.” The Daily Beast also reported the exchange: The Daily Beast’s coverage.
Why Yang made the joke
The line referred to online jokes prompted by reports that Vance met Pope Francis on Easter Sunday shortly before Francis died. The timing was the setup for a comedic remark; it does not establish that Vance caused the pope’s death. Behar’s clarification made clear that Yang’s phrase was not a literal accusation.
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Yang was also on the program to promote The Wedding Banquet, but the reported exchange came while the hosts were discussing his SNL impression of Vance.
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