Actress Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended from “The View” due to insensitive comments that she made about the Holocaust.
On Monday’s episode, Whoopi and her co-hosts were talking about the controversial banning of Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel “Maus” in schools. During the discussion, Goldberg said that the Holocaust “was not about race” which sparked immediate backlash online.
“If you’re going to do this, then let’s be truthful about it,” Goldberg said during the episode. “Because the Holocaust isn’t about race. No, it’s not about race.”
Co-host Joy Behar asked Goldberg, “Then what was it about?”
“Man’s inhumanity to man,” Goldberg replied. “These are two white groups of people.”
Whoopi Goldberg Apologizes: ‘I Stand Corrected’
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) February 1, 2022
The Anti-Defamation League, the Auschwitz Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, and many other organizations criticized Whoopi’s remarks, which prompted her apology.
No @WhoopiGoldberg, the #Holocaust was about the Nazi’s systematic annihilation of the Jewish people – who they deemed to be an inferior race. They dehumanized them and used this racist propaganda to justify slaughtering 6 million Jews. Holocaust distortion is dangerous. #ENOUGH https://t.co/koS1kuspqV
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 31, 2022
“On today’s show, I said the Holocaust ‘is not about race, but about man’s inhumanity to man,’” she began. “I should’ve said it is about both.”
“As Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League shared, ‘The Holocaust was about the Nazi’s systematic annihilation of the Jewish people – who they deemed to be an inferior race.’ I stand corrected.”
“The Jewish people around the world have always had my support and that will never waiver,” she continued. “I’m sorry for the hurt I have caused.”
“Written with my sincerest apologies, Whoopi Goldberg,” she concluded.
Some fans called it a “farce” of an apology, and Whoopi apologized again on Tuesday morning on “The View.”
Whoopi Goldberg Issues Another Apology: ‘I Regret My Comments’
On Tuesday’s episode, Whoopi defended her controversial comments by claiming that she “misspoke.”
“I tweeted about it last night but I kind of want you to hear it from me directly,” she said. “I feel a responsibility.”
“My words upset so many people, which was never my intention,” she continued. “I understand why. The information I got was really helpful.”
“I said the Holocaust wasn’t about race and was instead about man’s inhumanity to man,” she went on. “It is indeed about race because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be the inferior race.”
“Words matter and mine are no exception,” she concluded. “I regret my comments and I stand corrected.”
Many fans pointed out that other daytime talk show hosts had been fired for less and #firewhoopi started trending on Twitter.
An Inside Source Claims Whoopi Goldberg Might Be Fired!
On Tuesday afternoon, Page Six exclusively reported that Whoopi’s agents were “panicking” amid calls for her to be fired.
“ABC staffers and Disney Network execs are saying Whoopi went way too far,” an inside source claimed. “And board members are not happy with her apology and want a fuller retraction. The word is that Whoopi is in ‘deep s–t.'”
“Why does Whoopi seemingly get a pass when others don’t?” the source added. “Perhaps this time she won’t. Many at the network — including her fellow hosts — believe Whoopi is too controversial now for the show.”
The inside source warned that this “isn’t just going to blow over.”
“This will cast a shadow over everything for a while,” they continued. “Even Joy Behar was heard saying backstage that Whoopi is ‘dead wrong’ and may not ever recover from this. Joy found this particularly troubling and couldn’t believe Whoopi wouldn’t stand corrected until she was forced.”
“Her agents are panicking that she may have ruined herself for good,” the source continued. “Plus, now she has to worry about potential death threats.”
On Tuesday night, it seems that ABC decided to take action against Whoopi’s comments.
Whoopi Goldberg Faces Two Week Suspension From The View
— ABC News PR (@ABCNewsPR) February 2, 2022
Shortly before 10 PM on Tuesday night, ABC News President Kim Goodwin shared a statement to Twitter that Whoopi had been suspended from the view for her “wrong and hurtful” comments.
“Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks for her wrong and hurtful comments,” the message began.
“While Whoopi has apologized, I’ve asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments,” the statement read. “The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities.”
According to reports, Deadline also received a memo that Goodwin sent exclusively to staff, calling Whoopi’s comments “misinformed, upsetting, and hurtful.” Goodwin stated that “words matter and we must be cognizant of the impact our words have” before posting the same statement that was publicized last night.
It remains to be seen if Whoopi will be welcomed back by her former cohosts after this two-week suspension, or if this might ultimately lead to her dismissal from the network.
