When The View took on Netflix’s gripping drama Adolescence in a recent episode, the panel’s hot take sparked a firestorm of controversy that’s still blazing across social media. The hit series, a raw exploration of a teenage boy’s descent into violence amid the toxic swirl of online misogyny, has been hailed as a cultural wake-up call since its March 2025 debut. But according to critics, the ladies of The View – Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines – turned a nuanced story into a one-dimensional gender war, painting women as flawless saints and men as irredeemable villains. Fans and detractors alike are calling it pure BS, accusing the show of peddling a biased narrative that undermines the complexity of Adolescence’s message. So, what’s the truth behind the outrage? Let’s unpack the drama, the backlash, and the hypocrisy that’s got everyone talking.
The View’s Take: A Predictable Playbook?
It’s no secret that The View thrives on bold opinions and fiery debates, often leaning hard into progressive talking points. In their discussion of Adolescence, the panel reportedly praised the series for exposing the dangers of “toxic masculinity” and the “manosphere” – that shadowy online world of influencers like Andrew Tate, where young men are fed entitlement and rage. Joy Behar allegedly quipped, “This is what happens when boys aren’t taught to respect women,” while Sunny Hostin lauded the female characters – like psychologist Briony Ariston – as “beacons of strength in a sea of male chaos.” Whoopi, ever the voice of moral authority, is said to have declared, “Men need to step up, because women shouldn’t have to keep cleaning up their messes.”
On the surface, it’s a familiar refrain from the show: women as victims or heroes, men as the root of all evil. But critics argue this oversimplification flattens Adolescence’s layered storytelling. The series, co-written by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, doesn’t just point fingers at boys like Jamie Miller, the 13-year-old accused of murdering his classmate Katie. It’s a gut-punch portrait of a fractured society – one where parents, schools, and technology all fail vulnerable kids, male and female alike. By framing it as a “men bad, women good” morality tale, The View allegedly missed the forest for the trees, sparking accusations of hypocrisy from viewers who’ve long criticized the show’s gender double standards.
The Backlash: Calling Out the Bias
The internet didn’t hold back. X posts flooded in, with users slamming The View for what they see as blatant sexism dressed up as feminism. “Funny how they never mention Katie bullying Jamie online,” one user wrote, referencing the victim’s role in cyberbullying that’s subtly hinted at in the series. “The View acts like women can’t do wrong, but Adolescence shows everyone’s flawed.” Another chimed in: “They praise Briony but ignore Eddie’s heartbreak as a dad. Men aren’t just villains – they’re hurting too.” The sentiment? The View cherry-picked moments to fit a narrative, ignoring the show’s balanced critique of human behavior across genders.
This isn’t the first time The View has been accused of bias. Since its 1997 debut, the daytime talk show has weathered criticism for skewing liberal and female-centric, often sidelining male perspectives. A 2022 IMDb review called it “cringe, unrealistic, biased and over the top liberal,” while others have dubbed it “Morning Estrogen Overload.” The Adolescence segment seems to have reignited that fire, with detractors arguing the panel’s take reeks of the “women-are-wonderful effect” – a psychological bias where women are reflexively assigned positive traits, while men get the short end of the stick.
What Adolescence Really Says
To understand the disconnect, let’s rewind to what Adolescence actually delivers. The four-episode Netflix series, shot in gripping single takes, follows the Miller family after Jamie’s arrest for stabbing Katie. Owen Cooper’s chilling performance as Jamie reveals a boy radicalized by online misogyny – think “80-20 rule” rants and incel forums – but also one wrestling with rejection, insecurity, and a desperate need for belonging. His father Eddie (Stephen Graham) and mother Manda (Christine Tremarco) aren’t abusive stereotypes; they’re loving, flawed parents blindsided by their son’s actions. Meanwhile, characters like Briony (Erin Doherty) and DI Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters) probe the “why” behind the crime, exposing a web of societal failures – from unchecked social media to disengaged schools.
The victim, Katie, isn’t a saintly cipher either. Flashbacks and dialogue suggest she taunted Jamie online, part of a cruel teenage ecosystem where power shifts fast. Does that justify her murder? Absolutely not. But it complicates the story, showing how both genders can wound – a nuance The View allegedly glossed over. As Vogue noted, calling Adolescence an “incel drama” is “technically accurate, but misleading.” It’s about rage, yes, but also about the messy, universal struggle of growing up in a digital age.
The Hypocrisy Factor
Here’s where the hypocrisy stings. The View has built a brand on championing women’s voices – a noble goal in a world where female perspectives are still too often sidelined. Yet, by reducing Adolescence to a gender binary, the panel arguably silenced the very complexity they claim to defend. If Jamie’s a monster, what about the system that shaped him? If women are always “good,” why not explore Katie’s flaws or Manda’s emotional distance? Critics say The View wants it both ways: preaching empathy while doling out judgment, a pattern that’s fueled its polarizing reputation.
Take Whoopi’s past controversies. In 2022, she faced backlash for Holocaust comments that downplayed race, later apologizing but doubling down on her intent. Joy Behar’s snarky jabs at conservatives have drawn equal ire. These moments highlight a tendency to steamroll nuance – a trait that clashes with Adolescence’s refusal to offer easy answers. The series ends with Eddie weeping over Jamie’s teddy bear, a father broken by guilt and love. Where’s the “men always bad” in that?
The Bigger Picture: Gender Wars on Screen
This dust-up reflects a broader cultural tension. As The Atlantic reported in December 2024, young men worldwide are trending conservative, often reacting to perceived attacks on masculinity. Adolescence taps into that zeitgeist, showing how boys like Jamie can spiral when left to navigate a world that vilifies them without guidance. Meanwhile, feminist critiques – like those in Invisible Women – highlight how data and narratives still erase female experiences, a valid counterpoint The View could’ve explored. Instead, the panel’s alleged black-and-white take mirrors the “toxic masculinity” trope that alienates rather than educates.
Online, the debate rages. Men’s rights advocates on Reddit have mocked Adolescence as “more women-good propaganda,” while feminist voices argue it doesn’t go far enough in centering Katie’s story. Both sides miss the point: the series isn’t about picking a team. It’s a mirror held up to all of us – parents, kids, tech giants – asking why we’re failing the next generation.
Why It Matters
So, was The View’s take BS? Maybe not entirely – the series does indict misogyny, and women do bear the brunt of male violence (one killed every three days in the UK, per Counterfire). But the bias charge sticks when you consider how the panel reportedly ignored the gray areas that make Adolescence a masterpiece. By March 31, 2025, the show’s topped Netflix charts, sparked school workshops, and even prompted talks of smartphone bans – proof its impact transcends daytime TV squabbles.
The real hypocrisy isn’t just The View’s. It’s ours, as viewers who lap up outrage but dodge the hard questions. Adolescence doesn’t let us off that hook – it demands we look at Jamie, Katie, and ourselves, not as heroes or villains, but as products of a broken world. Maybe next time, The View could take a page from that script instead of rewriting it.
