Sara Haines returns to The View, reveals father-in-law’s death caused absence
Sara Haines returned to The View on Thursday, September 17, 2026, to explain her absence from the previous day’s episode. She revealed that her father-in-law, the father of her husband Max Shifrin, passed away after a week in hospice. Haines stated she learned of the death shortly before the Wednesday broadcast and chose to sit out. The absence initially sparked speculation after co-hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg discussed her missing presence on air, with Behar clarifying that Haines was not ill. Haines described the loss as 'brutal' and noted that her husband had been emotionally distant during the period. She also addressed rumors, joking that Behar’s comments made the situation sound 'scandalous.' The incident highlights the personal struggles faced by public figures and the impact of family grief on professional schedules.
