Sara Haines returned to The View with an emotional explanation for her unexpected absence, revealing that her father-in-law had died after spending a week in hospice care.
Haines addressed the loss during Thursday’s broadcast after missing the previous day’s episode. She said her family had known the death was approaching, but the reality of the moment still brought an overwhelming wave of emotion.
“I wanted to share why I was missing yesterday. My father-in-law passed away,” Haines told viewers.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Haines learned of his death shortly before Wednesday’s show and ultimately did not participate in the live broadcast.
Haines opens up about her family’s loss
Speaking through her emotions, Haines explained that her father-in-law had been receiving hospice care for a week.
“We knew it was coming,” she said, adding that when the news finally arrived, it allowed the emotional weight the family had been carrying to “gush out.”
Much of Haines’ attention has been on her husband, Max Shifrin, whom she married in 2014.
She said Shifrin had been away from their children but had finally returned home, where the family was surrounding him with support.
“Max has been gone; he hasn’t seen the kids, and now he’s finally back. And we’re pouring love into him,” she said.
Haines and Shifrin share three children: sons Alec, 10, and Caleb, 7, and daughter Sandra, 8.
Haines described her late father-in-law as “the most important person in Max’s life” and said he had been her husband’s “North Star.”
She recalled learning how important the relationship was as early as her first date with Shifrin.
Reflecting on the grief her family is experiencing, Haines acknowledged that losing loved ones is something many people eventually face.
“It’s the chapter we’re in, and we all will be a part of this club eventually,” she said. “But wow, it’s brutal.”
Her unexplained absence had raised questions
Haines also used her return to clear up questions created by her sudden disappearance from Wednesday’s panel.
Joy Behar had told viewers that Haines was “not sick” but did not provide further information at the time.
That limited explanation prompted some lighthearted discussion when Haines returned.
Haines joked that Behar had made her absence sound more mysterious than it really was, telling her, “You made it sound scandalous. You made it sound so interesting. I almost didn’t want to ruin it with the truth.”
Behar explained that she simply did not want viewers thinking Haines was ill.
Haines responded that she was “heart sick” and “head sick,” but not physically sick in the traditional sense.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Haines told Behar she appreciated the humor, saying, “Joy, I can use the levity right now. So, keep that coming, girl.”
An emotional return during a milestone season
The loss came shortly after Haines reunited with her colleagues following The View’s summer break.
The hosts returned to the studio to begin the ABC talk show’s milestone 30th season, with Haines joining Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin on the panel for the premiere.
Haines originally left The View in 2018 before returning to the program two years later.
Her absence this week ultimately had nothing to do with illness or the program itself. Instead, Haines stepped away at a deeply difficult moment for her family before returning Thursday to explain the loss in her own words and share how they are supporting Shifrin through the death of his father.
