Last week, Matenopoulos, who was a co-host on The View from 1997 to 1999, made a guest appearance on the daytime talk show to promote her new cookbook, GREEK.ish. During her segment, she introduced a variety of traditional Greek dishes for the hosts to sample, including one particular dish that contained walnuts, which is a serious allergen for Hostin.

While consuming the dish during the live segment, Hostin exhibited signs of distress and panic. Later, she revealed that she “almost died” during the ordeal, recalling the frightening moment when she wrote a “death note” to her co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, in which she disclosed her severe allergy to walnuts. This incident underscores the critical importance of food allergy awareness in public settings.

In a revealing interview with Entertainment Weekly, published on Tuesday, Matenopoulos explained that she was completely unaware of Hostin’s walnut allergy. She mentioned that the show’s producers had approved the recipes prior to her appearance on the Wednesday episode, raising concerns about the communication surrounding food allergies on television.

“I like all of them, I felt horrible,” Matenopoulos expressed. She further clarified, “I went over the recipes with the producer of the show. At one point, we discussed preparing this peach walnut upside-down cake, completely unaware of the potential danger it posed to Sunny.”

Hostin, who has been a prominent co-host on The View since 2016, admitted on Friday that she often forgets about her walnut allergy, stating that she hadn’t had a reaction in a decade. Her fellow co-host Sara Haines mentioned that she was unaware of Hostin’s allergy. According to Matenopoulos, the producers of The View were also not informed about Hostin’s condition.

The television personality highlighted that she had previously warned producers, saying, “God forbid someone would have a nut allergy,” to which a producer responded that none of the co-hosts had allergies to the dishes being served. (As reported by EW, that individual was unaware of Hostin’s allergy.)

“She thinks I’m trying to kill her,” Matenopoulos jokingly told EW, affirming, “I want to go on the record saying I was definitely not trying to harm Sunny Hostin!”

Despite the humorous banter between Hostin and her co-hosts following the incident on Friday’s episode, producer Brian Teta conveyed to Hostin on The View’s Behind the Desk podcast on Monday that “it was actually incredibly serious and frightening.” This commentary highlights the need for more awareness and better protocols regarding food safety in live broadcasting.

Reflecting on the footage of her on-air allergic reaction, the legal expert admitted that she experienced a “panic attack.” This reaction not only emphasizes the seriousness of food allergies but also the emotional toll they can take on individuals.

“I was truly panicking,” she continued, sharing her fear, “The reason I wrote the note to Alyssa was because that felt like my death note. If I went into anaphylactic shock, I wanted everyone to know what was happening. I think I freaked her out because she was like, ‘Oh no,’ and I was like, ‘Oh yes.’ I looked at you.”

Hostin and Teta discussed how they exchanged “eye contact,” with the producer silently asking Hostin if she was alright, to which she responded with a shake of her head indicating “no.” This moment of communication underscores the importance of non-verbal cues in high-stress situations.

“My tongue was getting bigger and swelling, and my lips were swelling and burning,” she recalled, emphasizing the severe physical symptoms of her allergic reaction. Teta advised her that if this ever happens again, she should immediately get out of her chair and “let people know what is going on.”

“I did not want to mess up Debbie’s book,” Hostin replied, with Teta clarifying that it “was not Debbie’s fault.” This exchange reflects the complex dynamics of professionalism and personal health in the entertainment industry.

“If I had…run off set, that would have become the story instead of her book at that moment,” Hostin continued, emphasizing her desire not to overshadow Matenopoulos’s accomplishments as an author, as she herself is also a writer and understands the impact of such situations.

The former prosecutor revealed that her family had “reminded” her of past hospitalizations due to her allergy, which is a crucial reminder of the serious nature of food allergies.

“My mom reminded me I was hospitalized at five because of it,” Hostin mentioned, “and then my husband reminded me when he found out about it, he was like, ‘You were hospitalized ten years ago because of this.’” This highlights the importance of familial support and awareness regarding allergies.

She mentioned that her friends, family, and team—including her assistant—are aware of her allergy, giving her a sense of security that any of Matenopoulos’ dishes would be safe. However, Hostin noted that “somehow it just got lost in translation,” clarifying that it was an unfortunate “accident.”

“I trusted that there wouldn’t be any walnuts,” she added, expressing relief that Alyssa asked, “Are there walnuts in here?” This question proved to be critical in preventing a potentially life-threatening situation.

Hostin previously praised the Disney nurses on set as “superheroes,” with Teta recalling during the podcast how everyone rushed into action during the commercial break. This highlights the importance of quick response and preparedness in emergency situations.

“We had people running for Benadryl, running to get the nurse, EpiPens…” he mentioned, illustrating the rapid response required in such emergencies. Hostin, inquiring whether she appeared “as terrified” as she felt during the ordeal, highlighted the emotional weight of the experience.

“Yeah, you did. I was very nervous,” Teta admitted, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. Hostin responded, “I was terrified. I was pacing. I was terrified.” This exchange emphasizes the high-stress nature of live television and the pressures involved.