The final straw, according to sources, was the growing number of walk-offs and on-air meltdowns that seemed to overshadow any substantive discussions. “We reached a point where the show’s biggest moments weren’t about the issues—they were about which co-host stormed off the set that day,” said one executive close to the situation.

One of the most infamous moments came earlier this year when Meghan McCain, former co-host and resident conservative voice, dramatically left the show after a heated argument with her liberal co-hosts. “We wanted real conversations, not WWE Smackdown,” the executive added. “It’s hard to sell that as ‘daytime entertainment.’”

Viewers, too, seemed to feel the fatigue. Ratings for The View have fluctuated over the years, with some seasons pulling in solid numbers and others languishing as audiences tuned out. As political divisions in the country deepened, so did the chasm between the show’s hosts—leading many viewers to feel more stressed than informed after each episode.

“We started getting feedback from viewers saying they had to take a nap after watching the show. It just became too exhausting,” the CEO said with a chuckle. “People want to be entertained, not feel like they’ve just survived a cage match.”