Joy Behar is notoriously forthright, and today’s episode of The View was no exception. During a discussion about the ethics of genetically altered embryos and the use of gene therapy to give children a leg up in the world, the co-host revealed all.
After Whoopi Goldberg addressed the topic, Alyssa Farah Griffin voiced her reservations about tampering with nature.
Griffin stated, “I dislike acting as god.” “It immediately made me uneasy, so I began researching it. This science is currently quite unreliable. It’s still in its infancy.”
She continued, “I don’t believe we should perpetuate the idea that if you’re not this beautiful, this healthy, or this tall, you’re somehow less valuable as a person.”
However, her words did not resonate with every panelist. Taller people earn higher wages, and the majority of U.S. presidents have been taller than 5’10”, according to Sunny Hostin, who “would disagree” with Griffin’s judgment.
While Hostin was unsure if she would “mess with” the height of her own children, she was open to safeguarding them from potential mental health issues or cancer predispositions.
When Behar spoke up, she told the panel about her own personal experience: “When my daughter was getting married, I questioned her prospective spouse. “Are there any diseases in your family?” I inquired. He responded, “Not to my knowledge.” That was my method for conducting genetic research.”
When asked by the panel how her daughter felt about Behar questioning her fiancé, she waved off the topic with a hand gesture and insisted, “she was fine” before moving on.
“When you’re young, like when I was young and seeking for a husband, I married a man who was tall, good-looking, and intelligent. So this is how I conducted my own personal eugenics.”
She doubled out and insisted, “I believe women do. We can detect harmful genes in a sense.”
“If only that were true,” answered Goldberg. This would make life so much simpler if it were possible.”
ABC airs The View weekdays at 11pm/10c.
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