While The View has long existed for the sole purpose of bringing some controversy to ABC’s daytime lineup, cohost Whoopi Goldberg crossed a major line this week and is now paying the price.
Goldberg brazenly downplayed the horrors of The Holocaust this week, suggesting that, because most of the Jewish people were white, this was not an issue of race. Then, in an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s late night show, she appeared to double-down on her comments.
This has now forced ABC to take action.
Whoopi Goldberg has been suspended from ABC following her controversial comments about the Holocaust in which she said the extermination of six million Jews was not about race.
“Effective immediately, I am suspending Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks for her wrong and hurtful comments,” ABC News president Kim Godwin said in a statement.
“While Whoopi has apologized, I’ve asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments,” Godwin added. “The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities.”
ABC insiders seemed to believe that this may be the end of Goldberg’s career.
While Whoopi might hope the situation will blow over soon, the ABC insider said that will likely not happen.
“This will cast a shadow over everything for a while. Even Joy Behar was heard saying backstage that Whoopi is ‘dead wrong’ and may not ever recover from this,” the source said. “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.”
There are fears that Goldberg’s take on The Holocaust could be used to embolden anti-semites as well, creating a lasting and lurid legacy for the otherwise accomplished actress.
