“The view” of hypocrisy for a dude in a swim brief on daytime TV

I’ve always considered ABC’s The View a platform for diverse opinions (maybe not so much lately, but back in the day) and spirited debate, a place where women could frankly discuss everything from politics to pop culture. But lately, a disturbing trend has emerged, a glaring double standard that makes me question the show’s commitment to genuine female empowerment.

The recent incident involving a censored photo of actor Walton Goggins in a swim brief has thrown this hypocrisy into sharp relief.

Let’s be clear: The View, in 2025, deemed a photo of a man in a somewhat revealing swimsuit too risqué for daytime TV. Too much “Walton” and too much “Goggins,” according to Joy Behar. This, on a network owned by Disney, the same network that airs Bachelor in Paradise, a show where contestants practically live in swimwear while engaging in behavior that makes a tight brief seem downright Victorian.

The irony, of course, is thicker than the sunscreen on a Cancun vacation. This is the same show where the female panelists have, on multiple occasions, invited male strippers to celebrate birthdays, openly ogling and objectifying them. It’s the same show where, not infrequently, the conversation drifts into discussions about the physical attributes of male celebrities. But dare a man mention a woman’s appearance – even in a complimentary way – and the outrage is palpable, the repercussions swift and severe.

Let men openly talk about a woman’s tits then. Why not? Could you imagine a panel of five men sitting there and discussing a supermodel’s boobs? Never. It would never happen — at least not on network television.

What message does this send? It tells us that objectification is only wrong when it’s directed towards women. It implies that men’s bodies are inherently more dangerous, more sexualized, and therefore, require more censorship. (Or is that a contradiction? The women are allowed to make the focus of a discussion the man’s body but it can’t be shown.) It suggests that women are allowed to freely comment on male appearances, while men should keep their opinions to themselves.

This isn’t feminism. This isn’t equality. This is a selective outrage that reinforces the very power imbalances feminists are fighting to dismantle. You can’t claim to advocate for a world where women are respected for their intellect and achievements, not just their bodies, if you continue to perpetuate a system where men’s appearances are constantly policed and judged under a different, and often stricter, standard.

The argument that The View is just harmless entertainment doesn’t hold water. Popular culture shapes our perceptions and attitudes. When a show with such a large and influential audience embraces these double standards, it normalizes them. It tells viewers that it’s OK to objectify men, to shame them for their bodies, and to treat their sexuality as something that needs to be carefully managed.

I understand that sensitivities around objectification are heightened, and rightfully so. Women have historically been subjected to relentless scrutiny and judgment based on their appearance. But the solution isn’t to flip the script and apply the same oppressive tactics to men. 

We need to challenge this hypocrisy. We need to hold The View and other media outlets accountable for perpetuating these outdated and harmful gender roles. We need to demand a more nuanced and consistent approach to discussing sexuality and appearance.

It’s time we recognized that true equality means treating everyone the same, regardless of their gender, their body type, or their choice of swimwear. It’s time to retire the double standards and embrace a world where everyone feels comfortable and empowered in their own skin – briefs or no briefs. Because in 2025, frankly, we should have more important things to worry about than whether or not a glimpse of Walton Goggins’s inner thigh is too much for daytime TV.