‘The View’ Host Joy Behar Hospitalized After Falling Victim To ‘Avocado Hand’ Syndrome
The View host Joy Behar finds herself in a deadly battle with an avocado. Surprisingly, the fruit wins, leaving Behar bloodied and her ego bruised.
A Terrifying Ordeal
Tuesday's episode of the hit show found Behar regaling her co-hosts with the story of how she'd come face to face with a deadly foe. She explained that she had had to miss work on Monday because she accidentally cut her hand open while trying to prepare an avocado.
"Saturday night ... I stabbed myself in the hand with a knife... I was trying to open an avocado. So I stuck the knife into the pit to get it out ... and I stabbed myself!" revealed Behar.
The 75-year-old host was good-humored about the debacle on The View, explaining how she then had to stay overnight in the hospital and get hooked up to a drip to prevent infection in the wound.
She did acknowledge, however, that it was the worst pain she'd felt in a very long time.
The Scourge Of Avocado Hand
Apparently, though, this isn't the first time medical professionals have been tasked with dealing with a case of so-called "avocado hand."
"There is a syndrome called avocado hand. It's real! The doctor said, 'We get this all the time,' " she advised.
Behar also advised anybody worried about injuring themselves to steer clear of bagels, or any other item that requires being held while a knife is used to cut through it.
Her fellow View panelists gifted Behar a safety glove and an avocado slicer, to prevent further injury, and she joked that she wouldn't be taking her life in her hands again any time soon, choosing only pre-made guacamole from now on.
According to research from hospitals in the U.K., there are about four patients a week admitted with an avocado-related injury. In the United States, there are more injuries around Cinco de Mayo, due to the preparation of guacamole.
Simon Eccles, secretary of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, suggested that, with the rising popularity of avocado-based meals including the hipster-friendly avocado on toast, maybe the fruit should come with a safety warning.
Injuries from avocados range from a simple gash on the hand to losing full function of it, as Behar herself acknowledged on The View. The legendary actress Meryl Streep fell victim to "avocado hand" back in 2012, according to Behar, so at least she's in good company.
