RK “He was more than a bandmate—he was family.” Jimmy Kimmel’s voice cracked as he sat in the middle of The View’s roundtable, where the already lively atmosphere suddenly became heavy. As soon as he mentioned Cleto Escobedo III, his friend and companion from the early days of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Jimmy couldn’t hold back tears. Whoopi Goldberg gently placed a hand on his shoulder, while Joy Behar tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but her eyes were also red. “He was the life of every show,” Jimmy said, his voice trembling. “No one knew me better than Cleto… and I don’t know what it would be like to walk on stage and not see him there.” The studio fell silent—no one said another word. And then, before getting up from his interview chair, Jimmy turned, looked directly into the camera, and said something that stunned both the hosts and the audience.
“The View Falls Silent”: Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar Comfort a Heartbroken Jimmy Kimmel After Learning of Cleto Escobedo III’s Passing
It was supposed to be a light-hearted morning on The View — laughter, banter, and the easy rhythm of television routine. But as the cameras rolled, the tone of the show shifted from cheerful to heartbreakingly human.
Jimmy Kimmel, guesting on The View to promote a charity comedy special, was in the middle of a casual exchange when he received the devastating confirmation: his lifelong friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, had passed away.
What happened next turned one of America’s most boisterous talk shows into a moment of pure, unscripted tenderness.
The Moment the Laughter Stopped
The episode had begun with typical View energy. Whoopi Goldberg was teasing Joy Behar about her “unfiltered opinions,” Sunny Hostin was dissecting the day’s headlines, and Jimmy Kimmel — known for his trademark grin — was trading jokes about late-night rivalries.
Then, during a commercial break, a member of Kimmel’s team quietly approached him, whispered something in his ear, and placed a phone in his hand.
When cameras resumed, something had changed. His smile was gone. His voice, when he spoke, was small.
“I just found out,” he said softly, staring at the table. “Cleto’s gone.”
The studio fell completely silent.
Whoopi, recognizing the gravity of the moment, reached across and gently took his hand. “Oh, honey,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
A Friendship That Spanned Decades
For those unfamiliar with their bond, Kimmel and Cleto Escobedo III weren’t just co-workers — they were family.
Cleto had been by Kimmel’s side since his earliest days in television. The two grew up together in Las Vegas, where their love of comedy and music turned into a lifelong collaboration.
When Kimmel launched Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003, he didn’t hesitate to bring Cleto along as his bandleader and musical director — a role he held faithfully for more than 20 years.
“Cleto wasn’t just part of the band,” Kimmel once said. “He was the heartbeat of the show.”
So when the news of Cleto’s passing hit, it wasn’t just a professional loss — it was personal, immediate, and raw.
Whoopi Steps In
As Jimmy struggled to speak, Whoopi Goldberg moved closer, her voice steady and full of warmth.
“You don’t have to say anything,” she told him gently. “Sometimes silence says enough.”
The audience, sensing the gravity, remained hushed. Even the usual rustle of studio equipment seemed to fade away.
Joy Behar, her own eyes glassy, leaned in and added softly, “Take a breath, Jimmy. We’ve got you.”
“He was my guy,” Kimmel finally said, his voice cracking. “We started together. Every night, for over twenty years, I’d walk out and he’d play me on. It’s hard to imagine walking out to silence.”
A Studio in Tears
Producers later confirmed that several members of The View’s studio crew were crying behind the cameras. “It was one of those moments that reminds you television is real people, real hearts,” one crew member said.
Kimmel tried to collect himself, managing a shaky smile.
“He used to call me every morning — not for business, just to say something dumb. He’d make me laugh before I’d even had coffee. I told him once, ‘Cleto, you’re the first voice I hear every day.’ He said, ‘Good, because I’m never letting you sleep in.’”
The audience chuckled softly — the kind of gentle laughter that comes from shared grief and affection.
Whoopi squeezed his hand again. “That’s what love looks like,” she said quietly. “Even when they’re gone, they still make you smile.”
The Final Words That Stunned the Studio
As the segment drew to a close, the producers offered to cut to commercial. But Jimmy shook his head.
“No,” he said. “Let me say one thing.”
He looked out toward the audience, his eyes wet but focused.
“Cleto always told me, ‘If you ever get too busy to say thank you, you’ve already failed.’ So… I just want to say it — thank you, Cleto. For the music. For the laughter. For showing me what loyalty really means.”
Then, pausing, he added something no one expected.
“And to everyone watching — call your people. Text them. Don’t assume they know. I turned down his call last night because I was tired. And now… I’d give anything to hear that ringtone again.”
The studio gasped.
Joy Behar covered her mouth. Whoopi’s eyes filled with tears. Sunny Hostin whispered, “Oh my God,” under her breath.
It was a moment of collective heartbreak — raw, unfiltered, and painfully human.
A Standing Ovation for Grief
When the segment ended, the audience spontaneously rose to their feet. It wasn’t applause for entertainment — it was an act of solidarity.
Whoopi stood beside Kimmel, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as Joy wiped away tears. “You did right by him,” Whoopi said. “He’d be proud of that goodbye.”
Kimmel managed a faint smile. “He hated goodbyes,” he said. “So let’s call it a see-you-later.”
The audience clapped again — softer this time, reverent.
Backstage and Beyond
Backstage, witnesses say Kimmel sat quietly for several minutes, still holding the phone that had delivered the news. Whoopi reportedly stayed with him until the end of the taping.
“She just kept saying, ‘Breathe, baby, breathe,’” one producer recalled. “It was maternal, gentle — exactly what he needed.”
Later that afternoon, Kimmel shared a simple message on social media:
“I lost my brother today. Cleto was joy, music, and kindness in one person. He made the world louder and better. I’ll miss him forever.”
Within hours, tributes poured in from celebrities, musicians, and fans. John Mayer called Cleto “a musical soul who made television feel like a jam session.” Lenny Kravitz posted a broken-heart emoji and the words, “Play on, brother.”
A Moment America Won’t Forget
The clip of The View’s emotional exchange has since gone viral, with fans calling it “the most human moment on television this year.”
“We saw a man lose a friend, and we saw two women hold him up,” wrote one viewer on X. “That’s what compassion looks like.”
In a media landscape obsessed with sound bites and scandals, this moment stood apart — quiet, real, and painfully beautiful.
Because sometimes, television’s greatest power isn’t to entertain… but to remind us that behind the laughter and lights, we’re all just people trying to hold each other together when life breaks our hearts.
