Whoopi Goldberg's Iran Comments Spark Outrage: Calls for Her Firing Intensify
WHOOP-GATE: The View's Star Host Whoopi Goldberg Missing from TV Amid Backlash Over Comparing Life as a Black American to Iran
In a shocking turn of events, Oscar-winning actress and The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg has gone MIA after sparking outrage with her outrageous comments comparing life as a black American to living in Iran. The fiery exchange between Goldberg and her fellow co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin on Wednesday's episode left viewers stunned and calling for the actress to be fired.
The drama began when Griffin praised American freedoms, stating that "the U.S. in 2025 is not as bad as Iran in 2025." However, Goldberg quickly jumped in, shooting down Griffin's comment with a remark that has sparked widespread condemnation: "Not if you're black."
Griffin was taken aback by Goldberg's response, asking her to explain herself, but the actress shot back: "Listen, I'm sorry. They used to just keep hanging black people." When pressed for more, Goldberg quipped, "There's no way I can make you understand it. It is the same."
The comments were met with a firestorm of criticism, with many calling for Goldberg's termination from The View. Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a plastic surgeon whose family fled Iran in 1985 when she was just six years old, spoke out against Goldberg's comparison, stating: "Whoopi Goldberg's comparison between being Black in America and living under Iran's authoritarian regime is deeply misguided... It dismisses the brutal realities faced by millions of Iranians."
The controversy continued to brew, with comedian Bill Maher weighing in on his show. Maher played the clip of Goldberg's comments, asking the Democratic party to "do something" about The View, a day before Goldberg typically takes off.
But what really got viewers talking was the fact that Goldberg is a multi-millionaire black woman who seemed oblivious to the privilege she holds. As one TikTok user pointed out: "You're a multi-millionaire black woman on national television saying this? That alone proves the difference between America and Iran."
In an attempt to smooth things over, Joy Behar, another co-host of The View, tried to explain Goldberg's absence from the show. According to Behar, Goldberg was in Italy accepting an award for her book "Bits and Pieces" and would be out for the week.
However, sources close to the show revealed that Goldberg will not return until July 7, just before the annual summer break. This gives ABC News and The View's parent company Disney a chance to distance themselves from the controversy and hope it blows over.
But this is not the first time Goldberg has been at the center of a scandal since replacing longtime moderator Rosie O'Donnell in 2007. In 2022, she sparked outrage when she argued that the Holocaust was "not about race," leading to a two-week suspension from the show.
And if that wasn't enough, The View's criticism of Donald Trump has been making headlines for months. Top brass at ABC News and Disney have reportedly asked the ladies to tone down their complaining about the commander-in-chief, but it seems Goldberg and her co-hosts are not taking the hint.
In a bizarre twist, sources revealed that ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic and Disney CEO Bob Iger had each made separate requests for The View's hosts to dial back their criticism of Trump. But it seems their efforts were in vain, as the show continues to be filled with criticisms of Trump and his policies.
The controversy has also raised questions about ABC News' double standards. In December, the network was forced to fork over $15 million to settle a libel suit brought by a woman who claimed she was defamed on-air by longtime correspondent Terry Moran. And just weeks ago, ABC News took extreme measures by firing Moran for attacking the Trump administration in a social media post.
As the drama continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what's next for Goldberg and The View. But one thing is certain: this is not the last we've heard of Whoopi-Gate.
Sources:
- The Scholarly Note.com