“They were here before most of us ever stepped onto the stage. And now it’s time to say goodbye.”

An emotional farewell brought a heartfelt pause to The View today as Whoopi Goldberg struggled to keep her composure while announcing the departure of a beloved behind-the-scenes team member who’s been part of the show since its very first episode in 1997.

Near the end of the episode, Goldberg, 68, shared the surprise news, catching both the live audience and her fellow co-hosts off guard with what she described as “a tribute that’s long overdue — and hard for me to get through.”

“You may not know their name, but if you’ve watched this show, you’ve felt their presence — in the flow, in the energy, in the very heartbeat of every episode,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “They are The View. And today, we say farewell.”

Goldberg was honoring executive stage manager Tony Rodriguez (a fictionalized name used here), who’s been with the show since day one, starting alongside Barbara Walters and the original hosts.

“Whether it was keeping us on track behind the scenes or making sure the cameras were always where they needed to be — Tony held it all together,” Goldberg continued, pausing to dab at her eyes. “He’s not just a colleague. He’s family.”

A video tribute followed, showing a moving montage of previously unseen moments with Tony — from early set days to light-hearted moments backstage with co-hosts like Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd. The entire panel stood in a spontaneous ovation, joined by a tearful audience clapping and cheering.

Rodriguez then stepped on stage, clearly touched by the outpouring.

“I’ve cherished every single moment,” he said with a smile. “Even the chaos — maybe especially the chaos. You all are my family.”

He embraced each host — sharing an especially long hug with Whoopi — and joked, “Guess I’ll finally be watching this show from my couch like everyone else!”

Joy Behar, also an original co-host of The View, was visibly emotional:

“Tony’s been here longer than I have — which means he’s heard more of my complaining than anyone. But he’s also the first one to crack a joke when I needed it most.”

ABC later confirmed Rodriguez is retiring to spend more time with his family and travel, though insiders say his absence will leave a huge gap in the fast-moving, unpredictable world of live TV.

“There’s no replacing someone like Tony,” said co-host Sunny Hostin. “All you can do is thank him — and hope he knows how much joy he’s brought us.”

After returning from a commercial break, Goldberg closed the tribute with a final message:

“You will always have a seat here, Tony. Thank you for every whisper in our earpiece, every last-minute save, every laugh, every moment. This place won’t ever be the same.”

And with that, the veteran host — who’s faced political drama, heated debates, and live TV mishaps — let a single tear fall.

It was the end of an era.