Whoopi Goldberg Pauses ‘The View’ to Embrace Guest Harvey Guillen
Whoopi Goldberg interrupted The View on Wednesday, January 29, to share a heartfelt moment with guest Harvey Guillén.
Goldberg, 69, stood up from her chair during the panel’s conversation with Guillén, 34, to embrace him as they explored topics of male loneliness and self-worth.
The moderator of The View was visibly excited to have the What We Do in the Shadows star at the table, expressing that she is a huge fan of his work.
“I jumped him when I first met him,” Goldberg reminisced. “I adored his show, What We Do in the Shadows.”
Goldberg commended Guillén for his extensive efforts in advocating for greater LGBTQIA+ representation within the entertainment sector.
The discussion later shifted to Guillén’s newest project, Companion, a science fiction thriller that delves into themes of consent and human relationships.
In the film, Guillén and The White Lotus actor Lukas Gage portray guests at a secluded cabin who discover that their friend Josh’s (The Boys’ Jack Quaid) girlfriend, Iris (Sophie Thatcher), is actually a ‘companion robot.’ Tensions rise during their couples’ trip as Iris exacts her revenge.
“When I read this script, I was taken aback by how some characters interacted with their partners,” Guillén recalled. “I never realized that when you see couples, you might think, ‘You speak to your wife like that? Your husband?’ Whether it involves a futuristic scenario with love robots or not, the way you communicate with another person reveals much about yourself.”
Guillén acknowledged that Companion helped him recognize the significance of self-love and honest introspection for men.
“People often mention the epidemic of male loneliness, which is real, but men also need to pause and consider, ‘Maybe I should work on myself.’ How can you love others if you don’t love yourself?” Guillén suggested.
Goldberg reminded her View cohosts that she had made a similar observation in the past, pausing the conversation briefly to embrace Guillén.
“I love you! Oh, my goodness,” Goldberg exclaimed during the spontaneous hug.
The hosts of The View subsequently turned to the topic of Guillén’s romantic life, inquiring if he is currently seeing anyone.
“No,” he chuckled in response. “I was dating someone while filming the movie, and Lukas Gage, who plays my partner in the film, was also in a relationship.”
Guillén added: “We often discussed our relationships while filming and were so in love that we infused that emotion into our characters. Now here we are, both single! I wondered, ‘Do you think we noticed the red flags while filming?’ I believe so!”
Guillén explained to The View hosts that he ended his most recent relationship because his partner seemed to “mimic love” but couldn’t genuinely commit.
“Looking back, I realize, ‘Wow! I’m not the same person I was when I filmed that movie. I won’t be the same person tomorrow as I am today,’” Guillén reflected. “So, we all progress!”
Earlier this month, Guillén joined his Companion co-stars, including Gage, Quaid, Thatcher, and Rupert Friend, for the film’s red carpet premiere at the Hollywood Legion Theater. The event marked the first Hollywood premiere since wildfires impacted the Los Angeles area throughout January.
Guillén is set to star alongside Eva Longoria and Flamin’ Hot actor Jesse Garcia in the family comedy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip, which will debut on Disney+ March 28.
The View airs Mondays through Fridays on ABC, and the streaming spin-off The Weekend View broadcasts on ABC News Now Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. ET and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. ET. Guillén’s new film Companion hits theaters Friday, January 31.