Whoopi Goldberg Suspended From ‘The View’ for Holocaust Remarks
Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended from “The View” for two weeks after facing wide criticism for her remarks that the Holocaust was “not about race.”
Goldberg’s suspension was announced in a statement released by ABC News public relations on Tuesday night.
Goldberg’s comments on “The View” on Monday reached the highest level of decision makers at Disney. Peter Rice, chair of Disney General Entertainment Content, was consulted on the public fallout for Goldberg.
President Kim Godwin announced the decision in a note to staff Tuesday night.
“Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks for her wrong and hurtful comments,” Godwin said. “While Whoopi has apologized, I’ve asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments. The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities.”
“These decisions are never easy, but necessary,” she added in her memo. “Just last week I noted that the culture at ABC News is one that is driven, kind, inclusive, respectful, and transparent. Whoopi’s comments do not align with those values.”
Goldberg apologized on the program earlier on Tuesday, in a segment that also included an interview with Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.
“Yesterday on the show I misspoke,” Goldberg said to open the talk show. “The Holocaust is indeed about race, because Hitler and the Nazis considered the Jews to be inferior race. Now, words matter, and mine are no exception. I regret my comments and I stand corrected. I also stand with the Jewish people.”
The controversy erupted on Monday’s show, when Goldberg said during a segment about Maus: “Let’s be truthful about it because Holocaust isn’t about race. It’s not about race. It’s not about race. It’s about man’s inhumanity to man.”
Co-host Ana Navarro responded to Goldberg, saying: “But it’s about white supremacists going after Jews.“
“But these are two white groups of people!” Goldberg replied. “The minute you turn it into race it goes down this alley. Let’s talk about it for what it is. It’s how people treat each other. It doesn’t matter if you’re Black or white, Jews, it’s each other.”
Goldberg made similar comments on CBS’ Late Show Monday evening, but also released an apology on her social media feeds, saying: I’m sorry for the hurt that I have caused.”
