Whoopi Goldberg Misses The View After Etna Eruption

Whoopi Goldberg was absent from the July 6 episode of "The View" after being stranded in Sicily, Italy, due to a volcanic eruption. The longtime host was unable to return to the United States after Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, erupted, forcing the closure of airports on the island.

Goldberg explained her predicament in a prerecorded video message played during the broadcast. "I am in Sicily right now, and Mount Etna, who is one of our active volcanoes here in Italy, decided to go off today," she said. "We have spent most of the day trying to get back to the United States and all of the airports are closed here. So I will be back as soon as I can." She joked about the unusual travel disruption, saying, "I know that we got all kinds of stories about our different vacations. Well, I think my story just takes the cake. A volcano ate my homework!"

The volcanic activity that disrupted Goldberg's travel is part of an eruptive cycle that began on June 26, with an uptick in lava flow recorded by July 5, leading to numerous flight cancellations.

Goldberg was not the only co-host missing from the post-July 4 holiday episode. Ana Navarro was unable to travel from Florida due...