'The View' Host Sunny Hostin Reveals She 'Almost Died on the Show,' and Viewers Say It Was Her 'Responsibility'

Before she could even finish her bite, Sunny Hostin felt the weight of panic set in — not from a heated debate or a political hot take, but from a silent, invisible threat on her plate.

During a recent episode of "The View", co-host Sunny Hostin stunned the studio audience and viewers at home when she revealed she 'almost died on the show' after unknowingly eating food containing walnuts - a substance she's deathly allergic to. But while her co-hosts laughed it off and fans expressed concern, with many others criticizing the TV host.

The near-miss unfolded during a segment featuring former co-host Debbie Matenopoulos, who had returned to the show to share a spread of Greek dishes in promotion of her cookbook.

Hostin explained that she took a few bites before Alyssa Griffin asked if the food contained walnuts. When Matenopoulos confirmed it did, panic set in. "I have a terrible allergy to walnuts. So I panic immediately," she told her co-hosts.

Hostin quickly passed a note to Alyssa that read:

"I am allergic to walnuts,"

The note signalled that something was seriously wrong. Luckily, the show’s in-house medical team jumped into action. "Our Disney nurses are like superheroes," Hostin continued, crediting one in particular, Nurse Jan, for administering an EpiPen and Benadryl. "

I was scared," she admitted. Alyssa added she hadn't realized Hostin was reacting at the time.

Despite the life-threatening nature of the moment, the segment ended on a lighthearted note, with co-hosts cracking jokes, including Joy Behar quipping, "We can call it Ozempic walnuts," and Sara Haines joking, "Note to self, never give you walnuts."

But the laughter didn’t sit well with everyone watching.

Across YouTube, a wave of negative reactions flooded the comment sections, with many viewers criticizing both Hostin and the show’s tone. Several pointed out a lack of basic food allergy protocol and missed opportunities to educate the public.

"How can you be trying to sell a cookbook and not disclose with the people trying your food if there are any allergies to the food ingredients? [sic]" one viewer wrote.

Another comment read, "How do you have a horrible allergy to something and you literally forget about it and your kids and husband are the ones that remember? That sounds like the allergy really isn't that terrible."

"As someone who has worked for over 30 years to keep an anaphylactic person alive. I find this appalling that you as hosts of this show are laughing about this. This is why people don't take this kind of allergy seriously. A good teaching national platform where a life-threatening moment was laughed about, instead of educating the reality of the problem," another user added.

Another viewer asked bluntly, "How can someone who is anaphylactic not ask first what's in the food?"

"If you have an allergy, it's your responsibility to inform others," echoed a common sentiment in the comment section. Others took a more sarcastic tone, "Funny, I also get an allergic reaction watching 'The View'" and "Karma"

Referring to Matenopoulos' cookbook promotion, one person noted, "Nutrition 101, and assuming since you're selling a book about food, you LIST/make known the allergies before serving. Someone failed on BOTH their teams with communication."

And some were frustrated by what they saw as common sense being ignored, "As someone with food allergies, this is why you never eat anything unless you know exactly what's in it. I don't care if your mom, best friend, former co-host makes something, or if you're just trying to be polite and not make a scene or question anyone. You never ever eat something from anyone unless you know every single ingredient. Personally I never eat anything unless I make it, or I watch it being made."

However, many expressed genuine concern for Hostin. One viewer commented, "Thank God, you're alright Sunny," while another shared, "I've had a reaction like this. It's scary."

Some were relieved the situation didn't escalate further, writing, "Wow! Close one. Glad you were in the right place at the right time," "Thank God Sunny is okay." and "I'm so glad that Sunny Hostin is okay."

Others reacted with a mix of shock and humor, like the viewer who wrote, "Lmfao wooooowwww I’m glad she is ok," while someone else simply stated, "This is scary."

Another comment expressed frustration that the situation happened at all, "This is disgusting! Why would they bring nuts out when Sunny has an allergy??"

This unexpected on-air health scare has since become more than a moment of drama. It's turned into a conversation about food safety, transparency, and the importance of using public platforms to educate viewers on serious medical conditions like anaphylaxis.

The moment also shed new light on Hostin herself, whose extensive career has made her one of television's most respected and recognizable voices. A four-time Emmy Award-winner and New York Times bestselling author, Hostin has been a co-host on "The View" since 2016.

Before that, she was a legal analyst at CNN and a fill-in anchor for ABC's "World News Now" and "America This Morning".

In addition to her role on "The View", Hostin is a celebrated author. Her debut novel, "Summer on the Bluffs," became a New York Times bestseller in 2021, leading to a trilogy that concluded with "Summer on Highland Beach" in 2024.

She also penned the memoir "I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity, Justice, and Living Between Worlds", which explores her rise from the Bronx housing projects to a federal prosecutor and TV journalist.

As the founder and CEO of Sunny Hostin Productions, she develops premium content focused on social justice and underrepresented communities.

Hostin currently resides in New York with her husband, Manny, and their two children.

Her allergic reaction may have lasted just moments, but the conversation it sparked about safety, responsibility, and the power of public figures to set examples is proving far longer-lasting.