Whoopi Goldberg Gives Health Update After Month-Long ‘The View’ Absence: ‘I Came Very, Very Close to Leaving the Earth’

After a one-month absence from The View, Whoopi Goldberg finally broke her silence on the health struggle she has been experiencing.

“Hey, yes, it’s me. I am here. I am up and moving around — not as fast as I’d like to be, but I am OK. I’m not dead,” the 63-year-old began in a pre-taped segment introduced by cohost Joy Behar on the daytime program’s Friday, March 8, episode.

The EGOT winner — who has been a permanent fixture on the talk show since 2007 — revealed that she had pneumonia in both of her lungs and was septic. That’s why she hasn’t appeared on the ABC morning show since February 6, something that recently began worrying fans. Joy first addressed the “serious” situation during the February 20 episode.

“Yes, I came very, very close to leaving the Earth. Good news, I didn’t,” Whoopi added, discussing just how dire things have been with “all kinds of stuff going on.”

“Thank you for all of your good wishes and all of the wonderful things that people have been saying,” she said sincerely before making us giggle with her iconic sharp wit. “Even people who are not huge fans of mine have actually said nice things about me. We all know that’s gonna change when I get back but, for right now, it’s brilliant. Thank you for everything.”

Sources told Us Weekly earlier this week that there’s no official date for Whoopi’s return to The View, where she sits alongside her fellow cohosts Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman and Ana Navarro. All that said, Whoopi cannot wait to get back to discussing the hot topics with the gang.

“Ladies, I cannot wait to see y’all. This has been interesting and I’ll tell you about it when we’re all at the table. To everybody, see you soon.”

Get well soon, Whoopi!