This wasn’t a disagreement — it was war, live on air.

Music legend Bonnie Raitt has filed a $50 million lawsuit against The View and Whoopi Goldberg, accusing them of “vicious defamation” after what her legal team calls an on-air character attack.

According to Raitt’s lawyers, a recent segment on the show “mocked her legacy, misrepresented her beliefs, and twisted her words to damage her reputation.”

“This wasn’t commentary,” her attorney said. “It was character execution — on live TV.”

Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the lawsuit names Goldberg, ABC, and several producers, demanding both damages and a formal public apology. Insiders say Raitt felt “ambushed, misrepresented, and deeply humiliated.”

“They tried to make a spectacle out of me,” Bonnie told close friends. “Now they’ll face the spotlight — in court.”

Clips of the heated segment have since gone viral, sparking outrage across social media and fueling the trending hashtag #JusticeForBonnie. Fans called the exchange “disrespectful,” “cruel,” and “beneath the standards of the show.”

One fan wrote:

“Bonnie Raitt has spent decades using her voice for good — she deserves respect, not ridicule.”

ABC has denied wrongdoing, calling The View “a space for open discussion and diverse perspectives.” But behind the scenes, insiders say tensions are rising quickly, with network executives and lawyers advising hosts to “stay quiet until the storm passes.”

Industry analysts are already calling this case one of the most explosive celebrity defamation suits in years — one that could redefine how talk shows handle public figures and live debates.

For Bonnie Raitt, however, this fight isn’t about fame or fortune. It’s about dignity, integrity, and respect.

“They didn’t just cross the line,” one insider said. “They bulldozed it. And Bonnie’s about to bulldoze back.”