“I Panicked”: Sunny Hostin Recounts Life-Threatening Allergic Reaction on The View
In a frightening moment during a recent episode of The View, co-host Sunny Hostin revealed she “almost died” on set after suffering a severe allergic reaction. The incident unfolded during a segment featuring former View panelist Debbie Matenopoulos, who appeared on the show to promote her new cookbook, GREEK.ish.
Hostin, 56, shared the harrowing details on the Friday, June 20th episode, explaining the scare occurred earlier in the week. While sampling dishes from Matenopoulos’ cookbook, she inadvertently consumed walnuts, to which she has a severe and known allergy.
A Sudden Realization and Immediate Panic
The danger became apparent when fellow co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin inquired if the dish Hostin was eating contained walnuts. Matenopoulos confirmed that walnuts were an ingredient, prompting immediate panic from Hostin. “As I’m eating the food, Alyssa asks, ‘Are those walnuts in here?’ And she says ‘yes.’ So I panic immediately,” Hostin recounted.
Feeling the rapid onset of a reaction, Hostin urgently wrote a message on a light blue cue card to Griffin, seated beside her. She described it as a “death note,” revealing her severe allergy. “I am allergic to walnuts,” the note read. Footage shown during her retelling captured Griffin’s visible shock upon reading the message. Hostin also signaled her distress to executive producer Brian Teta, who noticed her panic.
“Disney Nurses Are Like Superheroes”
Fortunately, help was swiftly at hand thanks to The View‘s on-site medical team. Hostin praised the medical professionals, particularly the “Disney nurses,” calling them “superheroes.” Nurse Jan was specifically highlighted for her quick response, arriving with an EpiPen, administering Benadryl, and conducting tests to monitor Hostin’s condition.
“What was great was, our Disney nurses are like superheroes,” Hostin said. “Nurse Jan came in with an EpiPen. She was testing me. I had Benadryl. I was scared.”
Despite the frightening medical emergency unfolding live, Hostin managed to finish the segment.
Reflecting on the Scare
Hostin reflected on the scary experience, admitting she sometimes forgets about her severe allergy, often telling people she has no dietary restrictions, which her husband and children often have to correct. Co-host Sara Haines revealed she was unaware of the severity of Hostin’s walnut allergy. Griffin described the moment as “scary” and could tell Hostin was experiencing an allergic reaction.
This incident marked Hostin’s first severe allergic reaction in approximately 10 years. She commended Griffin for remaining calm during the stressful situation, despite her own panic. Both Hostin and Griffin expressed immense relief that Hostin made it through the ordeal safely, underscoring the importance of swift medical intervention in such emergencies.
