[lz_third_party includes=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXe51TjTj00]

On Monday’s episode of “The View,” the co-hosts discussed HBO host Bill Maher’s controversial use of the n-word over the weekend.

The hosts seemed to defend Maher’s choice to use the word — especially Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.

“He didn’t call anybody — he called himself — [the word],” said Goldberg.

Behar even went ahead and said he was just “empathizing” with the black community. Watch the clip above.