Following her controversial comments about the Holocaust, Whoopi Goldberg has been temporarily suspended from The View. The popular daytime talk show has had its share of controversies over the years as its panel of participants has constantly shifted. These conspicuous moments have been taking place since at least 2007 when Rosie O'Donnell left the show following an onscreen feud with Elisabeth Hasselbeck about the Iraq war. Other panelists who have faced controversies to various degrees include Michelle Collins, Joy Behar, and Meghan McCain, who left The View in August 2021.
The latest panelist to get herself in hot water is Whoopi Goldberg, the EGOT-winning actress and host who had her first big break in Steven Spielberg's 1985 film The Color Purple. During a recent episode of The View, she made the comment that the Holocaust was "not about race" but rather "about man's inhumanity to man." The comment immediately received flak and Goldberg later apologized on Twitter, saying that she "should have said it is about both" and that she stands corrected.
The host also apologized on the following episode of The View, opening the show by saying that "I said something that I feel a responsibility for not leaving unexamined, because my words upset so many people, which was never my intention. I understand why now, and for that I am deeply, deeply grateful because the information I got was really helpful, and it helped me understand some different things." Nevertheless, per CNN, Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended from appearing on The View for the next two weeks. In a statement from Kim Godwin, the president of ABC News, she explained that "while Whoopi has apologized, I've asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments."
While it seems like this situation has been resolved satisfactorily for the parties involved, it remains to be seen if Goldberg's suspension from The View will affect her in the long term. She is currently set to appear on Star Trek: Picard season 2, which is premiering on Paramount+ on March 3, 2022. She will be reprising the role of Guinan, the El-Aurian bartender who she played on 28 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as in cameos in two Star Trek films. Currently, her cameo seems like it will continue to be aired as intended.
The View has weathered many storms like this one. As a panel show that asks its hosts to speak their opinions five days a week, it is essentially designed to be a lightning rod for controversy. However, that hasn't stopped it from becoming the most-viewed talk show of the year in 2021, a standing that may continue if the show continues to draw attention throughout its run in 2022.
Source: CNN
