Thu Sep 25 01:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Sherri Shepherd Reveals “The View” Inspired Her to Vote for the First Time
**Los Angeles, CA** – Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd has revealed that she didn’t cast her first vote until she joined the cast of the daytime talk show, “The View.” In a recent interview on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show,” Shepherd shared that her upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness prevented her from participating in the political process.
“I was a Jehovah’s Witness, so I didn’t vote,” Shepherd explained. “I didn’t start voting until I got on The View.”
Shepherd credited her former co-hosts, particularly Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters, for encouraging her to think critically and form her own opinions. She recalled Walters advising her to “read a book” when she admitted her unfamiliarity with politics.
“All I knew was what the church taught me. That’s what it was. I didn’t think for myself,” Shepherd said. She emphasized the importance of expanding one’s horizons to avoid prejudice and judgment. “What I realized is sometimes we have to get out of where we live. We have to go travel the world. We have to meet people that are different from us.”
Shepherd also shared an anecdote about Whoopi Goldberg prompting her to share her own opinion on a topic during a segment on “The View.” She admitted she initially didn’t know what to think, highlighting her lack of prior political engagement.
Another co-host, Joy Behar, played a crucial role in helping Shepherd shed the pressure of representing entire demographics. “Joy Behar said to me, ‘Sherri, the moment you open your mouth, half the world is gonna hate you. So go by what you feel and what you think.'” This advice empowered Shepherd to speak her mind and develop her own voice, unburdened by the weight of expectation.
Shepherd’s revelation provides a glimpse into her personal journey of self-discovery and political awakening, largely influenced by her experiences on “The View.”
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